Silt 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY 


-OF 


Dr.  William  Henry  Johnson 


KESPECTFUIJ/V  DEDICATED  To   HIS  ADOPTED   HOME. 


THE  CAPITAL  CITY  OF  THE  EMPIRE  STATE 


LIBERTY,   FRATERNITY,  EQUALITY. 


All  things  rome  to  him  who  waits," 
Hut  that  is  merely  stating 

One  feature  of  the  case — you've  got 
To  hustle  while  you're  waiting. 


A.UI3ANV,    N.  V.,   AUQUST    1st,   19OO. 


PRICE  PER  COPY,  $1.50  IN   PAPER;    $2.00  IN  CLOTH. 


ALBANY: 

THE    AKfilTS    COMPANY,    PRINTERS. 
IQOO, 


rol'YRK.HT. 

1900, 
Kv   WILLIAM    IIKNL'Y  -l 


AluTIIKI?  OK  WILLIAM   II.  JOHNSON. 


Mi:-.  WILLIAM  II.  JOHNSON, 

President    of  the   Female  Lunily  Society, 

Albanv,  N.  Y. 


s  MAMIE  HOARDLV 
I'hiladelphia,  Pa. 


.VI K".   MAKGARETTE.HAHRISON, 
PiltHfield,  Mass.1 


f 


THE  .TOHXSOX  KESIDEXCE  FOR  TWENTY-EIGHT  YEARS, 

NO.  -319  ()raii'_'<:  Stivt-t,  cast  of  the  Xorthcni  Uoulc-varU,  Albanv,  X.  Y 


A    BUQL'ET 


INTRODUCTION. 


This  little  volume  bears  the  date  August  i,  1833,  in  honor  of  the 
emancipation  of  slavery  in  the  British  \Yest  Indies,  and  to  the 
memory  of  Clarkson  \Yilberforce,  Lord  Broham,  and  that  noble 
band  of  patriots  —  the  Pioneers  in  the  Anti-Slavery  Crusade. 

\Y.   II.    I. 


TlFK    COLORED    A.MI-IKJCAN. 

\Y.\sn  INGTON,   I).  C.,  September  8.   n;oo. 
MR.  \YILUAM  II.  Jon. \so.v.  27  Maiden  Lane.  Albany.  X.  V.: 

Mv  DKAK  SIR. —  You  may  remember  in  your  reminiscences  that 
al>'. >ut  sixteen  years  ago.  when  the  first  illustrated  colored  news 
paper  was  printed.  "  The  Indianapolis  Freeman,"  that  you  were  one 
of  its  first  contributors,  and  that  you  fired  your  opinions  through 
its  columns  to  the  entire  race.  I  remember  your  work  very  well 
and  1  remember  too  that  you  were  one  of  the  first  to  give  substan 
tial  aid  and  support  to  "The  Freeman."  I  was  the  founder  and 
editor,  and  promoter  at  that  time. 

Yours  verv  truly, 

E.  K.  COOI'FR. 


LIBRARY   OF  CONGRESS, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  September  14,  1900. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  JOHNSON. —  I  am  glad  to  learn  that  you  are  pre 
paring  a  book,  and  that  it  is  so  nearly  ready  that  I  may  expect  a 
copy  in  the  next  ten  days.  You  do  right  to  leave  an  impress  of 
the  kind  selected,  as  your  monument.  Cicero,  who  died  nearly  a 
thousand  years  ago.  is  still  remembered.  Caesar's  Commentaries, 
to-day,  delight  thousands,  though  fully  two  thousand  years  have 
passed  since  his  birth.  A  good  book,  one  depicting  scenes  in  the 

M209381 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

life  of  a  good  man,  will  outlast  any  monument  of  marble  the  hand 
of  man  can  fashion.  It  is  remarkable  that  so  perishable  an  article 
as  paper  should  resist  so  effectually  the  destroying  action  of  the  rust 
of  decav,  so  much  better  than  iron  or  marble.  A\  e  have  books  in 
the  library,  hundreds  ot  years  old,  looking  bright  and  well  pre 
served  as  if  from  the.  printer's  hand  but  a  short  time  ago. 

Therefore,  I  commend  your  wisdom  to  put  what  money  you 
would  otherwise  spend  upon  a  grave-stone,  in  an  autobiography,  so 
your  friends  can  ever  recall  your  services  to  your  race,  and  the 
young  of  succeeding  generations  strive  to  emulate  your  noble  self- 
sacrificing  example. 

Your  eminent  services  will  grow  brighter  with  the  lapse  of  time, 
when  the  asperities,  and  all  the  jealousies  incident  to  an  active 
political  career,  shall  have  healed.  Then,  and  not  until  then,  will 
your  eminent  services  command  that  appreciation  they  so  richly 
deserve. 

]  trust  yon  will  make  them  full,  and  include  those  striking  inci 
dents  well  known  now,  but  destined  to  perish  soon,  since  they 
depend  solely  upon  personal  recollection,  which  is  daily  being 
destroyed  by  the  hand  of  death. 

It  should  be  an  interesting  book,  and  1  shall  await  its  appear 
ance  with  no  little  eagerness,  and  expect  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promise  of  one,  for  the  Xegro  Bibliography. 

Few  people,  of  undoubted  literary  knowledge,  would  have 
thought  it  possible  to  collect  or  identify  three  hundred  books  and 
pamphlets  by  Xegro  authors.  Therefore,  the  real  facts  have  become 
the  sensation  of  the  century. 

I  have  catalogued  and  fully  identified  more  than  fourteen  hundred 
books  and  pamphlets  by  Xegro  authors.  The  London  Academy, 
a  very  high  literary  authority,  speaks  of  the  fact  as  truly  marvelous. 

Trusting  you  may  live  long  and  enjoy  the  contemplation  of  your 
well-spent  life,  and  die  of  old  age, 

I  am  very  sincerely  yours, 

DANIEL  MURRAY, 

WM.  H.  JOHNSON,  Eso.  Assistant  Librarian. 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

No.  45  WF.LLESLEY  PARK, 
DORCHESTER,  MASS.,  October  i,  1900. 

KRIH.VD  [oiixsox. — -Yours  of  September  fifteenth,  just  received, 
and  I  hasten  to  reply.  Accept  my  heart}'  congratulations  on  the 
near  publication  of  your  book,  and  may  it  have  the  success  it  richly 
deserves.  Enclosed  find  photo  of  myself.  I  am  very  sorry  that 
I  cannot  secure  one  of  the  late  Lewis  Hayden,  as  I  know  of  no 
one  who  has  one. 

I  fear  T  know  nothing  new  to  tell  you  about  Charles  Lenox 
kemond,  as  yon  knew  him  about  as  well  as  I  did. 

Moping  that  this  will  not  reach  you  too  late  to  be  of  use,   I  am. 

Very  trulv  yours, 

10IIX   L  SMITH. 


PREFATORY    REMARKS. 


This  little  book  makes  a  welcome  intrusion  upon  the  reading1 
public,  because  it  brings  \vitli  it  facts  and  reminiscences  which 
will  strengthen  the  hope  and  aspiration  of  its  readers.  Men  are 
daily  making  impressions  upon  the  minds  of  those  with  whom 
they  come  in  contact,  either  for  good,  or  for  evil.  The  good 
impressions  that  are  made  upon  the  mind  will  live  and  become 
more  enduring  than  the  engraved  tablets  of  brass  or  the  chiseled 
lines  on  the  granite.  They  are  as  imperishable  as  the  "stars  on  the 
brow  of  the  evening  sky.  that  shine  on  and  on  forever."  In  order  to 
preserve,  in  a  convenient  form,  the  thoughts  and  ideas  of  others,  they 
have  been  handed  down,  in  book  form,  from  preceding  generations. 
In  like  manner,  this  little  book  ot  reminiscences  is  largely  a  com 
pilation  of  historic  narratives  and  incidents  that  have  first  found 
their  wav  into  the  newspapers.  The  incidents  referred  to,  in  this 
little  volume,  are  largely  of  a  personal  character,  yet  thev  have 
a  strong  bearing  upon  the  great  epoch  of  the  age.  The  auto 
graphic  letters  and  other  correspondences,  herein  published,  are 
largely  from  persons  of  a  national  reputation,  and,  hence,  the 
author's  work,  labor  and  influence  has  been  the  same,  viz.,  the 
close  association  with  persons  who  were  identified  with  movements 
that  had  for  their  design  the  betterment  of  the  condition  of  the 
Xegro  race,  as  well  as  mankind  in  general. 

Then  this  little  book  registers  the  fact  that  the  largest  share  of 
legislation  in  this  State,  relating  to  the  Xcgro  race,  was  accom 
plished  through  the  influence  and  energy  of  the  author.  As  one 
can  be  helped  and  encouraged  by  the  helpful  conversation  of  a 
friend,  so  can  a  good  book  be  an  inspiration  to  its  readers,,  by  giving 
them  an  idea  of  the  work  and  accomplishments  of  one  who,  with 


l6  PREFATORY   REMARKS. 

his   zeal   and   energy,   has   contributed   to   the   development    of  the 
country  into  its  present  national  greatness. 

Therefore,  this  little  volume  is  commended  to  the  reading  public, 
for  their  thoughtful  and  kind  consideration,  not  sketching  it.  bin 
a  thoughtful  reading  of  the  same. 

REV.  JAMES  M.  RODDY.  A.  Al.. 
Liberty  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Tnn1,  .V.  F. 

September  4,  1900. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

OF 

DR.  WILLIAM  HENRY  JOHNSON. 

CHAPTER  I. 

A  I>KIFF  SKETCH  OF  TIN-:  LIFH  OF  DR.  \Yiu.i.\.\i   HE.XRV  Joii.vsox. 
OK  ALHAXV,   X.   V.,   PROVES   YFRV    I  XTKRFSTI  x<;    READIXC,   A.XD 

(ioiCS  TO   SlIOW    \\'lIAT   SHEER    PLUCK    L'XDER    ADVERSE    ClRCL'M- 

STAXCES  CAN  ACCOMPLISH. 

Horn  in  Alexandria,  Ya..  of  free  parents,  Marcli  4,  1833.  lie  left 
home  at  the  age  of  twelve,  with  only  the  education  that  a  Sunday 
school  could  give.  .Four  years,  ending  May,  1850,  were  spent  in 
Philadelphia,  learning  the  hair-dressing  business:  he  came  to 
Albanv,  X.  V.,  in  1851,  where  with  others  he  was  engaged  in 
conducting  the  "underground  railroad,"  the  object  of  which  was 
the  assistance  of  fugitive  slaves;  returned  to  Philadelphia  in  1855. 
In  1857.  became  a  member  of  the  lUmneker  Literary  Institute." 
and  about  the  same  time  he,  with  others,  organized  the  "  Proscribed 
American  Council,"  which  helped  to  revolutionize  public  opinion 
in  Philadelphia.  July  4.  185*;,  he  delivered  an  able  oration  at  the 
celebration  in  Philadelphia,  the  first  time  that  colored  people  par 
ticipated  in  such  an  event.  In  the  same  year  he  was  forced  to  leave 
Philadelphia  to  escape  imprisonment  for  having  assisted  fugitive 
slaves;  went  to  Xorwich,  Conn.,  and  was  a  resident  of  that  place 
when  the  war  broke  out.  Xot  being  allowed  to  enlist  as  a  soldier 
because  of  his  color,  he  joined  a  Connecticut  regiment  as  an  inde 
pendent  man  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  the  first  liull  Run, 
Roanoke  and  Xewbern;  his  health  failing,  he  returned  once  more1 
to  Albanv,  X.  Y.,  and  became  a  recruiting  agent  for  the  Fourteenth 
Congressional  District.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Xational  Con 
vention  in  1864;  drew  up  the  constitution  of  the  XVw  York 
State  Equal  Rights  Committee;  elected  Chairman,  1866-73 


I  <S  Al'TOl!  MXiUAI'I  I  Y     OK     I>K.     WILLIAM      IIK.XKY     I  <  )  I  I  \  S(  ).\  . 

(re-election  declined);  drafted  an  amendment  to 
Code,  striking  onl  the  word  "  white,"  wliich 
in  1872;  drafted  the  Civil  .Rights  bill  in  1873,  which  then 
became  a  law;  in  1867  he  memoralized  the  constitutional 
convention  to  reorganize  the  fundamental  instrument  bv  omitting 
the  property  qualification  clause  which  imposed  a  real  estate 
ownership  as  a  precedent  condition  to  allow  colored  citizens 
to  vote,  and  was  successful  in  his  endeavor.  In  1891  he  drafted 
a  bill  and  secured  its  passage  through  the  Legislature  of  this  State. 
abolishing  the  discriminating,  unjust  insurance  law  which  permitted 
the  acceptance  of  colored  people  upon  the  same  terms  with  white 
people,  and  at  death  deducted  one-third  of  the  face  value  of  the 
insurance  policy,  basing  this  deduction  upon  the  pretense  that,  the 
longevity  of  white  people  was  one-third  greater  than  that  of  black 
people.  In  this  noted  case  Dr.  Johnson  delivered  a  speech  before 
the  legislative  committee  exposing  the  fraud  perpetrated  upon  his 
people  by  insurance  institutions.  llis  argument  received  the 
applause  and  outspoken  approbation  of  all  his  listeners,  llis  inter 
pretation  of  the  law  upon  the  question,  as  well  as  the  humane 
and  business  aspect  of  the  case  which  he  presented,  won  him  a 
complete  victory.  The  bill  passed  both  houses  of  the  Legislature 
of  1891,  and  received  the  approval  of  the  then  Governor,  lion. 
David  I).  Mill.  It  causes  a  saving  to  the  colored  people  insured 
in  this  State  amounting  to  at  least  $50,000  per  annum. 

His  life  work  along  these  lines  culminated  in  the  triumphal 
enactment  into  law  of  the  bill  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  i<)oo. 
and  signed  by  the  Governor  (Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt),  which  wipes 
from  the  statute  books  of  the  Lmpire  State  the  last  vestige  of  racial 
discrimination.  It  is  the  bill  known  as  Xo.  40,2,  of  the  Laws  of 
1900,  repealing  all  laws  on  the  statute  books  prohibiting  the  free 
and  equal  accommodation  of  children  of  African  descent  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  State.  Governor  Roosevelt,  in  recognition 
of  Mr.  Johnson's  patriotic  and  manly  participation  in  this  matter, 
presented  him  with  the  pen  which  was  used  in  signing  the  bill. 

lie  was  a  Freesoiler.  In  early  life,  in  the  days  of  slavery,  he 
trained  with  Gerrett  Smith,  Frederick  Douglass,  Stephen  Myers. 
John  C.  Fremont,  Tiishop  Logan.  Rev.  'Henry  Highland  Garnet. 
Prof.  W.  Howard  Day,  Jacob  C.  White,  ( )ctavius  V.  Catto  and 
the  old  anti-slavery  party.  He  attended  the  first  Republican 
National  Convention  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1856,  where  Fremont 
and  Dayton  were  nominated  and  Abraham  Lincoln  secured  i  10 
votes  for  Vice-President.  He  was  present  in  1872,  when  General 


At'TOJMOr.UAlMlV    OK    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  1 9 

( •rant  was  nominated,  and  also  attended  the  convention  this  year, 
when  McKinley  and  the  "Rough  Rider"  were  nominated. 

hi  j8()2  he  was  elected  Grand  A I  aster  of  the  M.  \Y.  (i.  L. 
(colored),  and  in  the  same  year  wrote  to  Al.  \\'.  G.  M.  Benjamin 
Hagler,  of  the  G.  L.  of  F.  and  A.  AL,  protesting  against  the  color 
line  in  the  Masonic  fraternity.  (See  Masonic  Record  attached.)  In 
i  88^  he  received  the-  thirty-third  degree,  the  highest  Masonic  honor; 
drafted  the  amendment  to  the  Xew  York  State  constitution,  strik 
ing  the  word  "color"  from  that  instrument,  which  was  adopted  in 
1804;  between  limes  he  has  studied  law  and  medicine  and  now 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  is  still  manfully  battling  for  the  proper 
recognition  of  his  people. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  the  first  colored  man  elected  to  any  official 
place  in  this  State.  In  1872  lie  was  elected  janitor  of  the  State 
Senate  and  served  one  term  of  two  years.  Jle  was  also  elected 
janitor  of  the  High  Court  of  Impeachment,  consisting  of  the  State 
Senate  and  the  Court  of  Appeals,  which  tried  the  impeached  judges 
of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Saratoga  in  1873.  lie  was  elected  in 
1887,  a  State  committeeman  at  large  of  the  Republican  State  Com 
mittee,  and  in  1888  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  by  the 
State  Convention  held  in  lUiffalo  in  the  spring  of  that  year.  Xo 
other  colored  citizen  in  this  State  has  ever  been  honored  by  an 
election  in  a  State  Convention  to  that  position. 

lie  was  a  great  admirer  of  Lincoln,  (irant.  Conklin  and  Arthur, 
lie  followed  the  fortunes  of  General  (irant  and  attended  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  Chicago  in  1880,  where  the 
intrepid  307  delegates,  led  bv  Roscoe  Conklin,  stood  by  General 
(irant  until  his  colors  went  down  and  Garheld  was  nominated.  He 
went  again  to  Chicago  in  1888  and  witnessed  the  nomination  of 
!>eniamin  Harrison  for  President.  In  i88'j  lie  refused  to  stand 
for  re-election,  and  retired  to  private  life,  where  he  remained  till 
i8*ji,  when  he  was  called  upon  to  secure  the  adoption  of  the 
insurance  anti-discriminating  law. 

He  is  an  able  and  fluent  speaker.  Tie  is  in  every  sense  a  race 
man.  He  stands  squarely  upon  the  constitution,  insists  upon  a  fair 
and  legal  interpretation  of  this  instrument  and  the  laws  of  the 
State1  and  general  government.  Tie  has  been  and  is  to-day  an 
aggressive  and  intrepid  advocate  of  the  rights  of  his  race  and  the 
maintenance  of  the  supremacy  of  our  glorious  United  States. 
He  is  an  expansionist,  believing  that  wherever  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  are  raised,  there  they  must  remain.  Tn  all  of  his  political 
lights  (and  they  have  been  many)  he  has  never  grown  personal. 


except  in  his  own  defense.  lie  is  a  freelance,  as  willing1  to  take 
as  to  give.  He  honors  a  manly  up-and-open-facecl  combatant,  but 
despises  an  opponent  that  hides  behind  a  nom  de  plume. 

Dr.  Johnson  is  proud,  and  justly  so,  of  his  adopted  home. 
Albany,  where  he  has  resided  more  or  less  for  upwards  of  fiftv 
years.  In  1873  the  people  of  this  good  city  presented  him  a 
life-size  crayon  portrait  of  himself,  beautifully  and  substantially 
framed,  which  is  perhaps  better  described  by  following  newspaper 
clipping. 


ArTOTJTOr.RAPTIY    OF    DR.    WTLLTAM    IIENRY    TOIIXSOX.  21 


CHAPTER  II. 

|)K.    IOIINSOX'S    LITKKAKY    \\"OKK    DKSKKVHS   SPECIAL    A!  EXTIUN. 
PARTICULARLY    II  is    XKWSPAPKR   CONTRIBUTIONS. 

I  hiring  the  first  year  <>i  the  Civil  \\  ar  he  was  the  war  corre 
spondent  of  James  Redpath's  Pine  and  Palm,"  published  at 
P>oston,  Mass.  lie  was  first  with  the  Annv  of  the  Potomac  during 
the  three  months'  campaign.  He  then  joined  the  Burnside  expedi 
tion  and  did  ser\'ice  in  North  Carolina.  At  times  he  has  been  the 
Albany  correspondent  of  Frederick  Douglass'  Rochester  paper, 
'The-  North  Star,"  the  "Christian  Recorder,"  Philadelphia;  "The 
Freeman  "  and  "  The  Age,"  New  York  city,  and  the  "  State  Repub 
lican,"  Plainfield,  New  jersey.  In  1892,  he  published  and  edited 
"The  Calcium  Light,"  an  independent  journal,  at  Albany,  and 
to-day,  at  intervals,  is  publishing  "The  Albany  Capital." 

As  a  public  speaker  he  has  been  in  great  demand.  He  delivered 
the  oration  at  Rutland,  Yt.,  on  the  occasion  of  the  first  celebration 
of  the  fifteenth  amendment  to  the  Federal  Constitution,  June  8, 
1870.  That  entire  speech  was  published  in  two  editions  of  the 

Rutland  Herald."  His  speech  at  Hoston,  delivered  in  Fancuil 
Hall,  in  1872,  attracted  wide  attention,  as  did  also  his  oration 
entitled,  "  \\  hat  1  know  personally  about  John  Brown  and  his 
raid  on  Harper's  Ferry,"  delivered  at  Waverly,  X.  Y.,  August  i, 
1888,  and  the  able  and  masterful  address  on  "  Lincoln.  Slavery, 
Rebellion  and  Freedom,"  delivered  in  Albany,  X.-Y.,  [tine  11,  1895. 
He  ablv  defended  the  question  of  "  \Yoman's  Rights"  delivered 
before  and  under  the  auspices  of  the  Female  Lundy  Society,  May 
29,  1888,  in  this  city.  All  these  and  many  others  are  in  print. 
Among  his  magazine  productions  none  excel  his  "  Fruits  of  Faith," 
published  in  the  "Fort  Orange  Monthly,"  February  number  for 
1886,  Albany,  and  his  able  argument  in  defense  of  President 
McKinley's  administration,  in  particular  his  treatment  of  the 
Negro,  and  ( lovernor  Roosevelt  s  attitude  and  expressions  regard 
ing  the  Xegro  soldiers  in  the  Cuban  \Yar  entitled  "The  Xegro 
Citizen.  His  Constitutional  Prerogatives  and  Obligations."  This 
noted  paper  was  published  in  full,  together  with  an  excellent  cut  of 
the  author,  in  the  September,  1899,  number  of  the  "  Rexl,  White  and 


22  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     \\TLL1.\M     I1KXRV    JOHNSON. 

lUuc"  magazine,  and  also  in  "  Everybody's  Paper  and  Magazine," 

issued  bv  the  Leonard   Publishing  Company,  of  Alban\",  X.   Y. 

Dr.  Johnson  is  an  Episcopalian.  He  is  now  and  has  been  for 
manv  years  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  this  city.  He  believes 
in  the  spreading  abroad  of  the  gospel  of  our  Mlessed  Lord,  but 
doubts  the  wisdom  of  forcing  religious  views  upon  any  nation  of 
people,  especially  those  with  whom  we  have  diplomatic  and  treat) 
relations.  He  believes  in  the  general  civilization  of  the  heathens, 
but  thinks  that  coercion  along  religious  lines  does  not  enter  into 
the  province  of  a  country  like  ours  whose  constitution  is  founded 
upon  the  basis  of  religious  liberty  and  toleration. 

Dr.  [ohnson  is  a  creditable  and  much  respected  relic  01  the  old 
anti-slavery  and  free  soil  parties.  lie  never  tires  in  words  of 
praise  when  speaking  ot  his  old  associates  in  pro-slavery  davs.  i  Ms 
admiration  of  the  life  and  character  of  the  late  Frederick  Douglass 
is  unbounded.  In  his  now  famous  sera])  book's,  where  every  pub 
lished  incident  of  his  remarkable  life  is  tabulated,  there  is  found 
scores  of  autographic  letters  from  prominent  public  men  and 
women  and  a  review  ol  the  book's  furnish  interesting  historical 
study. 

His  eulogy  of  Frederick  Douglass,  delivered  on  the  occasion  of 
the  memorial  services  held  in  this  city.  March  5.  1X0,5.  will  never  In- 
forgotten  bv  those  who  heard  it. 

A  cabinet  photo  of  himself  and  one  of  the  late  Dr.  Thomas 
Klkins  are  to  be  seen  in  the  Centennial  Historic  Album  of  this  city. 
They  are  the  only  Afro-Americans  honored  in  that  work. 

The  following  quotations  from  his  scrap  books  will  help  illustrate 
the  character  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch: 

"The  World's  Industrial  and  Cotton  Centennial  Exposition, 
opening  December  I,  1X84.  William  II.  Johnson  is  hereby 
appointed  by  the  board  of  managers  as  Honorary  Commissioner  for 
Albany,  X.  Y. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  caused 
the  official  seal  to  be  affixed  at  Xew  Orleans  this  28th  day  of 
(  )ctober,  A.  D.,  1884. 

E.  A.    IJAKKR, 

Director-General. 
E.  RICHARDSOX, 
President." 


ST.  PKTKH'S  PKOTF.STANT  KPISCOPAL  Cnt'RCH. 


HON.  CHARLES  SUMNEH.  of  Massachusetts. 


"The  Republican   Party   is  the  Ship,   all  else  the  Sea."- 

Frederick  Douglass, 


MADONNA. 

Praise  God.  from  whom  all  blessings  How: 
Praise  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost.'' 


.  V.  - 


ASSISTANT  JJBKAKIAN  OF  CONGRESS, 
Washington.   |),  C. 


.U'TOniOGRAPlIY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HEXRY    JOHNSON.  27 

ROCHESTER,  X.  Y.,  January  18,   1870. 

MY  DKAR  MR.  JOHNSON. —  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  a  copy 
of  the  Rutland.  \  t..  Herald,  containing  an  account  of  the  interesting 
proceedings  in  Rutland,  and  of  your  speech  made  on  the  occasion 
of  the  celebration  of  the  fifteenth  Amendment  to  the  Constitution. 
I  am  very  glad  to  see  you  in  the  open  field,  and  hope  you  will  allow 
your  voice  to  he  heard  often. 

Your  friend, 

FREDERICK   DOUGLASS. 
MR.  \YM.  II.  foiiNSON,  Albany,  Y.  Y. 


"The  Knights  of  Labor  arc1  swimming  to  the  front  in  Albany 
in  a  verv  substantial  wav.  Last  week  the  order  procured  to  be 
incorporated,  according  to  law,  the  Knights  of  Labor  Building  Fund 
Association.  Officers  have  been  chosen  for  the  Association  a> 
follows:  President,  William  II.  Johnson:  vice-president,  P.  J. 
McCuire;  secretary,  l;.  J.  Morris.  There  are  about  forty  branches 
<>f  the  Knights  of  Labor  in  Albany,  and  they  pay  out  about  83.000 
each  year  for  rent.  This  they  propose  to  save  and  use  in  paying 
for  a  building  \\\  \\hieh  all  the  assemblies  can  hold  their  meet 
ings." —  [Press  and  Knickerbocker.  March  4.  1887. 

"The  trial  of  ex-District  Master  Cummins,  on  charges,  including 
twenty-eight  counts,  began  in  the  Knights  of  Labor  Hall  on 
Church  street.  Amsterdam,  at  one  o'clock  to-dav.  before  the  Dis 
trict  Court,  composed  of  Mr.  \V.  II.  Johnson,  of  Albanv,  chief  judge 
of  District  127.  and  associate  judges  \Yhite  of  District  65  and 
another  of  Albany." —  [Albanv  Evening  lournal.  [ulv  11.  1887. 


HON.  THOMAS  HKNKDK  T.  Public  Printer,  ll'ashiugton,  D.  C.: 

DKAK  SIR. —  This  endorsement  of  Miss  Lottie  Tompkins  who  i.s 
now  employed  in  the  department  under  vou,  and  who  deserves  to 
be  retained.  1  desire  to  make  to  you  without  qualification.  She 
was  appointed  through  the  influence  of  the  wife  of  the  late  lamented 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  the  Hon.  \\  .  \\'indom.  Miss  Tompkins 
is  in  every  way  deserving  of  \  our  favorable  consideration  and  I  take 
pleasure  in  joining  her  many  friends  in  commending  her  to  vou  for 
retenti<  >n. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  humble  servant,  etc,, 

WM.  IT.  JOHXS(  )N. 
_'7   Maiden    Lane,   Albany,    X.  Y.      Mav  22,    18(^4. 


28  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     ITEXRY    JOHNSON. 

The  above  letter  was  returned  to  the  writer  with  the  following 
inscription : 

"  Miss  Tompkins  is  secure  under  your  endorsement. 

"T.   K.   BENEDICT, 

"  Public  f'rinlcr.' 


\\"ASII  INCTON,  1).  C.,  .U</y  31 
MR.  YY.M.  11.  JOHNSON  : 

KJXD  FRIEND. —  If  so,  I  may  address  you,  as  von  have  been 
so  kind,  through  my  dear  friend,  Mr.  (.'has.  Bullar,  to  interest  your 
self  in  mv  behalf  in  writing  to  Public  Printer  Benedict  to  retain 
me,  1  now  write  to  thank  you  and  tell  you  how  grateful  I  feel  as  1 
am  trul v  depending  on  my  own  resources,  and  as  1  had  become 
accustomed  to  the  work  it  was  nothing  more  than  natural  that  I 
should  like  to  hold  the  position  as  long  as  possible.  1  shall  alwavs 
remember  your  kindness  and  ever  believe  me, 

Your  friend  and  well  wisher, 

LOTTIE  TOMPKINS. 


ALBANY    RAISES    OXK    lirxi>RKi>    DOLLARS    FOR   JOHN    BKOW.X'S 

DAUGHTER. 

The    Musical    and    Literary    Entertainment    of    l:cbniar\    24/11  — ./ 
Gratifying  Success  Artistically  and  Financially. 

ALBANY,  N.  Y.,  Marcli   i,   1897. 
MR.  EDITOR: 

On  January  loth,  I  addressed  the  following  letter  to  Dr.  \\  .  11. 
Johnson,  the  sage  of  Maiden  Lane: 

"Mv  DEAR  MR.  JOHNSOX. —  Knowing  your  interest  in  all  good 
work  and  realizing  the  scope  and  extent  of  your  influence  in  this 
community  1  make  bold  to  enclose  the  within  clipping  from  the 
Chicago  Conservator,  which  I  represent,  and  to  suggest  to  you  that 
some  effort  be  made  in  this  city  among  the  colored  people  and  white 
friends  of  John  Brown,  of  blessed  memory,  to  relieve  his  daughter 
who  is  now  in  distress.  I  will  gladly  co-operate  with  you  in  any 
effort  you  may  undertake  to  put  the  colored  citizens  of  Albany  in 
line  and  to  demonstrate  to  the  world  that  they  are  still  grateful  and 
revere  the  memory  of  the  man  whom  God  raised  up  to  strike  the 


Al'TnniOGKAlMlY    ()K    DR.     WILLIAM     IIKXRY    JoHXSOX.  2Q 

blow  which  culminated  in  the  liberation  of  4,000,000  slaves  and 
changed  the  current  of  popular  thought  on  the  question  of  human 
slavery  in  the  United  States.  1  trust  this  matter  will  commend 
itself  to  your  favorable  consideration  and  that  you  will  be  able  to 
devise  some  practical  plans  for  this  lady's  relief.  You  were  a  con 
temporary  of  John  Brown's  and  vou  are  the  man  to  go  to  the 
front  in  tin's  citv  in  this  cause. 

Yours  truly. 

I.   K.    BRUCE. 


Within  a  week  after  this  letter  had  been  sent  1.  had  a  note  from 
Dr.  Johnson  inviting  me  to  call  on  him  to  discuss  plans,  which 
i  did.  At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  to  organize  a  volunteer 
committee  of  the  representative  colored  people  in  the  city  of 
Albany  and  to  give  an  entertainment  that  would  reflect  the  highest 
credit  upon  their  public  spirit  as  well  as  to  attest  their  apprecia 
tion  of  John  Brown.  From  the  moment  that  Dr.  Johnson  evolved 
the  plan,  its  success  was  an  assured  fact.  The  tickets  went  like  hot 
cakes  and  checks  and  cash  contributions  from  the  admirers  of  old 
John  Jirown  poured  in  to  the  committee.  The  success  of  the 
entertainment  was  largely  due  to  Dr.  Johnson's  intelligent  efforts, 
that  it  was  planned  with  consummate  skill,  and  that  not  a  plan 
miscarried.  The  treasurer  of  the  Association,  Mr.  E.  B.  Irving. 
deposited  in  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics'  Bank  of  this  city  $100 
in  trust  for  Anna  Brown- Adams,  and  subject  to  her  order.  1  have 
just  written  her  to  draw  on  Albany  for  this  amount. 

(  )n  January  twenty-first  last,  was  held  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Anna  Brown-Adams  Relief  .Association  in  this  city.  On  February 
twenty-fourth  the  musical  and  literary  for  her  benefit  was  held  in 
the  Hamilton  Street  A.  M.  1C.  church,  and  netted  the  round  sum  of 
Sioo.  On  Monday,  March  eighth,  a  bank  draft  was  forwarded  to 
her  for  Sioo. 

M  us.  AXXA    BROWX-ADAMS, 

Pctrolia,  Humboldt  County,  Cal.: 

MADAM. —  Please  find  enclosed  bank  draft  for  $100,  as  per  your 
direction  in  your  letter  of  February  fifteenth;  you  will  please 
acknowledge  receipt  of  the  same  at  your  convenience,  and  accept 
the'  best  wishes  of  the  Anna  Brown-Adams  Relief  Association  for 
your  continued  success  along  these  lines.  \Ve  wish  we  could  make 


}O  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     LLEXRV    JOHXSoX. 

the  sum  $500,   but   we  have  done   what  we   could.      We   pray   ( iod 
to  bless  vou.  madame,  and  subscribe   ourselves. 
Yours    truly, 

WM.    H.   JOHNSON',    Chairman. 

K.  T>.  TRVIXd,  Treasurer. 

}.   K.    BRIX'K,   CV.    Secretary. 

Albany.   X.   Y.,   March  8,   iSg;. 

Registered   letter   \o.  3105,    I*.   (  ).,   Albany. 

Rec'd  Mar.  8,   1897,  of  \Y.  JJ.   Johnson.  27  Maiden    Lain-,  a  letter 
addressed   to    Mrs.    Anna    Brown- Adams,    IVtrolia,    d\\. 

FRAXVIS  II.  \\'(  )(  )1)S,  P.   M. 

I  Vr    \   AN    (    (  >TT. 


Ml'SICAL    AND    LiTEKAKY    Kx  ERC I  S  KS    I  I  ELD    WEDXESDAY     RVEXIXC, 

FET.RTAUY  24,   i8(>/. 

financial  .lid  Extended  — Net  Proceeds  from   Distinguished  l\rsons 
—  Xotable  Public-spirited  Citizens  Co-operate. 


HELPING  JOHN    I5I«>\VXS    DAl'GHTER. 

Afro-Americans  oi  this  city  are  justly  ^ratilied  at  the  success  <>t~ 
their  efforts  in  securing  funds  for  the  relief  of  the  daughter  of  John 
Brown.  At  the  entertainment,  which  was  one  of  the1  best  ever 
heard  in  this  city,  the  cosy  little  A.  M.  K.  church  on  Hamilton  street. 
was  crowded  with  an  appreciative  and  enthusiastic  audience. 

William  H.  Johnson  delivered  the  introductory  address,  saying: 
"Ladies  and  gentlemen,  in  my  humble  efforts  to  inaugurate  these 
proceedings,  I  will  not  vouchsafe  any  apology  for  the  position 
assumed  by  the  voluntary  committee  under  whose  auspices  this 
literary  and  musical  is  held  for  the  benefit  of  John  Brown's 
daughter,  Mrs.  Anna  Brown-Adams.  The  object  fully  justifies  our 
action,  and  commends  the  liberality  of  your  generous  patronage. 
( )ur  conduct  to-night  attests  in  unmistakable  language  our  recog 
nition  of,  as  well  as  our  effort  to  requite,  in  some  degree  at  least, 
the  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  the  memory  of  our  dead  hero. 

"On  the  2(1  of  December,  1859,  old  John  Brown  gave  up  his 
precious  life  upon  the  scaffold  at  Charlestown,  Virginia,  that  m\ 
race  might  become  free  and  worthy  citizens  of  this  commonwealth. 
that  slavery  should  die,  that  the  escutcheon  of  this  great  republic 


Al  roiJKH'.RAPHY     OF 

should  he  forever  free  from  the  blight  of  degeneration  caused  by  the 
dehumanizing  system  of  chattel  slavery,  the  result  of  '  Man's 
inhiinianitv  to  man.'  ( )ur  great  Empire  State  has  done  itself  honor 
to  carve  in  granite  together  with  other  illustrious  dead  citizens,  the 
bust  of  John  Brown  of  historic  fame  upon  one  of  the  columns  that 
will  perpetually  beautify  the  western  staircase  of  our  magnificent 
capitol. 

"  In  like  manner  we  do  ourselves  honor  in  the  effort  to.  help 
relieve  the  distress  that  burdens  his  daughter  struggling  for  the 
necessities  of  life  in  far-off  California.  Two  weeks  before  John 
lirown  made  his  famous  raid  upon  Harper's  Ferry,  1  was  fortunate 
enough,  in  companv  with  the  late  Hon.  Frederick  Douglass  and 
others,  to  meet  him,  to  hear  him  unfold  his  plans  of  attack,  to  tell 
of  his  determination  to  strike  the  decisive  blow,  come  weal  or  woe, 
for  the  freedom  of  the  slave. 

"  (  )n  the  evening  of  the  fatal  second  of  December.  1859.  the  day 
of  John  I  frown's  martyrdom,  I.  serving  with  others,  stood  guard 
over  his  dead  body  that  laid  in  state  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
whilst  en  route  to  Xorth  IClba,  Fssex  count}",  this  State,  its  final 
resting  place.  I  laid  mv  hand  on  his  upturned  brow,  and  in  that 
presence  1  registered  a  vow  never  to  be  false  to  mv  God,  mv 
country  or  my  race. 

"To-night,  thirtv-seven  years  since,  we  stand  here  in  the  capital 
citv  of  the  Fmpire  State  pleading  for  aid  to  relieve  the  immediate 
wants  of  our  hero's  daughter.  (  )ur  plea  is  not  made  in  vain;  this 
fact  is  attested  in  a  most  emphatic  manner  by  this  crowded  house, 
by  the  liberality  of  public-spirited  citizens  who  have  contributed  to 
the  relief  fund,  and  by  the  splendid  arrav  of  gifted  and  talented 
people  whose  names  grace  our  excellent  program. 

Dear  friends,  I  thank  you  for  your  generous  co-operation,  and 
now,  using  the  language  of  that  poor,  shattered,  heart-broken 
woman  of  Petrolia,  Ilumboldt  county,  California,  I  earnestly  invoke 
the  blessing  of  John  Brown's  (iod  upon  you  one  and  all." 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  address  Mr.  Johnson,  introduced  lion. 
John  \Y.  Thompson,  of  Rochester;  who  had  been  designated  by  the 
committee  to  act  as  honorary  chairman.  Mr.  Thompson,  upon 
rising,  was  greeted  with  a  hearty  outburst  of  applause.  Fie  said: 

"  It  accords  me  great  pleasure  to  have  the  distinction  to  be  one  of  the 
citizens  of  Xew  York  to  join  in  an  effort  to  help  to  relieve  the  pressing 
wants  of  the  daughter  of  that  grand  old  hero  and  emancipator,  John 
Brown.  But  to  be  selected  for  the  position  of  honorary  chairman 
of  this  evening's  demonstration  is  an  honor  of  which  1  shall  ever  be 


32  AUTOmOCJRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

proud."  Continuing,  he  said:  "  Upon  reaching-  this  city  this  morn 
ing-  as  the  representative  of  the  Frederick  Douglass  Monument 
Fund  Association,  to  address  the  legislative  committee  in  charge  of 
the  bill  to  appropriate  $5,000  toward  the  fund,  ]  dropped  in  as  1 
always  do,  when  in  this  city,  on  my  old  friend,  Dr.  Johnson,  who 
immediately  invited  me  to  preside  at  this  meeting.  I  said  to  him 
that  when  I  got  through  talking  to  the  committee  I  would  he 
unable  to  talk  at  this  meeting.  '  That,'  said  my  old  friend.  '  is  just 
what  we  want,'  and,  with  that  understanding.  I  accepted."-  -  (The 
Albany  Capitol. 


ALP.ANY,  X.  Y.,  February  25,   181)7. 
\Y.\i.  H.  JOHNSON: 

DEAR  SIR. —  I  could  not  forego  the  pleasure,  among  the  first 
things  to  do,  this  morning  to  tender  my  congratulations  for  the 
very  prettv  speech  vou  made  last  evening  as  chairman  of  the  benefit 
entertainment  for  the  relief  of  John  Brown's  daughter.  When 
describing  how  you  stood  by  the  upturned  face  of  the  dead  hero  of 
Harper's  Ferrv,  in  Philadelphia,  turning  to  vour  comrades  on  the 
platform  you  then  rose  to  the  heights  of  true  eloquence.  It  was 
a  beautiful  tribute,  charmingly  rendered. 

I   am  your  friend, 

TOSFPII  A.  SMITH. 


i  13  West  27th  St. 

NEW  YORK,  *lugust  3,   1000. 
WM.  H.  JOHNSON,  Fso.: 

DEAR  SIR.— T  have  received  a  copy  of  the  Albany  Fvening 
Journal  containing  an  article  written  by  yourself  entitled  "  Home 
versus  Foreign  Missions."  The  article  appears  well  in  the  columns 
of  the  grand  old  Journal  and  shows  that  your  efforts  are  not  con 
fined  to  the  amelioration  of  the  Afro- American,  but  enlisted  in  the 
cause  of  charity,  benevolence  and  fallen  humanity. 

That  the  results  of  your  many  achievements  may  be  fully  appre 
ciated  and  your  worth  among  us  properly  estimated  is  the  desire 
and  hope  of, 

Yours  very  truly, 

F.   B.  WRIGHT. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   DR.   WILLIAM    HENRY  JOHNSON.  33 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND   REGIMENT  CONN.   YOES., 

CAMP  MANSFTEED,  VA.,  7///Y  13,  1861. 

\\'ni.  H.  Johnson  lias  leave  to  go  from  and  return  to  camp.     The 
guards  and  pickets  will  permit  him  to  pass  and  repass. 

ALFRED  H.  TERRY, 

Colonel  Commanding. 


CAMI'  MYDou  EEL,  June  26,   1861. 

\Ym.  II.  Johnson  (colored)  has  permission  to  go  in  and  out  ol 
camp  bv  order  ol, 

DANIEL  TYLER, 

Brigadier-General. 
(HAS.   \V.   WALTER, 

.  //(/('-(/<'-( 'amp. 

AEP.AXY,  .•lugiisl  ().  1866. 
(  'AI-T.  \\'.\i.  J  I.  JOHXSI  ).\  : 

Siu. —  Appreciating  from  my  inmost  heart  your  intense  Christian 
and  national  desire  for  liberty,  manifested  in  our  late  movement 
upon  Canada  as  against  England  for  Irish  emancipation,  I,  there 
fore,  request  you  to  give  me  a  roll  of  your  members.  [  desire  the 
names  to  cherish  and  keep  as  a  memento  of  gratitude  from  the  free 
colored  race  to  the  enslaved  Irishmen,  whose  descendants  and 
brothers  battled  so  bravely  for  freedom  and  liberty. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be.  dear  sir,  very  truly  your  friend  and  com 
patriot, 

JAMES  J.  HEFFERMAX, 

Brigadier-General  Irish   Republic. 


\\  \  I.I'.ERR  >UCE,  (  him,  August  22.  j  888. 
\YM.  11.  JOHNSON: 

DEAR  SIR. —  After  consulting  several  leading  colored  .Repub 
licans,  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to  hold  a  conference  of  the 
prominent  colored  Republican  leaders  at  Indianapolis,  about  the 
26th  of  September,  to  "  formulate  and  send  forth  an  address  to  the 
colored  citizens  of  the  country  which  would  set  before  them  the 
relative  merits  and  demerits  of  the  two  great  parties  and  why  we 
as  a  class  prefer  one  to  the  other."  Will  vou  kindly  communicate 
to  me  your  views  on  the  subject  and  state  whether  you  are  willing 


34         AfTomoGkAi'jiY  OF  j)k.  WILLIAM  HKXRY  JOHXSOX. 

that  your  name  shall  be  signed  to  the  call?     Anything  that  you  may 
have  to  say  on  the  subject  will  be  gladly  received. 

Yours  truly, 

W.  S.  SCARBOROUGH. 


CKDAR  HILL,  ANACOSTIA,  .1).  ('.,  Sept.  8,  1888. 

\\'.\i.  H.  Jouxsox,  ALP.AXY,  N.  Y.: 

DKAR  DR.  Jonxsox. — -Thanks  for  your  letter.  I>y  the  kindness 
of  Prof.  Scarborough,  I  was  permitted  to  read  your  letter  to  him. 
He  requested  me  to  return  it,  and  I  have  done  so.  I  am  very 
glad  to  know  that  you  approve  and  will  co-operate  with  Mr.  Scar 
borough  and  others  in  the  matter  of  the  convention.  For  reasons 
quite  satisfactory  to  myself,  \  think  it  better  that  yon  and  Prof. 
Scarborough  should  take  the  lead  in  that  measure.  1  see  that 
the  National  Committee  has  relegated  me  to  a  very  wide  field.  1 
do  not  see  that  1  shall  have  a  single  (lav  or  night  to  spare  if  T  cover 
the  ground  they  have  marked  out  for  me.  I  am  to  go  to  Indiana. 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  in  the  west,  and  to  New 
York,  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut  in  the  east.  My  only  fear  is 
that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  go  through  without  breaking  down.  I 
leave  home  next  week  to  be  gone  till  the  fifth  of  November.  I  have 
been  waiting  for  the  National  Committee  for  an  expression  of 
opinion  as  to  the  advisability  of  our  holding  a  convention.  Thus 
far  it  is  silent.  It  will  remain  for  you  and  Prof.  Scarborough  to 
decide  whether  it  is  best  under  the  circumstances,  to  go  forward. 
I  should  have  no  doubt  about  it  mvself,  if  the  time  were  not 
already  far  spent.  Whether  you  hold  the  convention  or  not,  I  shall 
hope  to  meet  you  somewhere  on  the  stump  in  the  State  of 
New  York. 

Your  friend, 

FREDERICK  DOUGLASS. 


The  suggestion  to  hold  a  National  Convention  was  finally 
abandoned  and  an  address  to  the  people  was  issued.  It  was 
endorsed  by  representative  colored  men,  representing  each  State 
and  territory.  That  action  was  approved  by  the  National  Repub 
lican  Committee,  Hon.  M.  A.  Quay  being  then  the  chairman.  Mr. 
Douglass  signed  for  District  of  Columbia,  Prof.  Scarborough  for 
Ohio  and  Dr.  Johnson  for  Xew  York. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     ( >  F     DR.    WILLIAM     IIHXRY    JOlIXSOX.  35 

HEADQUARTERS     RHITHLICAN     XATIOXAL     COMMITTEE,     No.     91 

FIFTH.  AVENUE. 

NEW  YORK,  September  19,  1888. 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  Enclosed  I  send  YOU  a  draft  of  an  address  to 
the  colored  people  of  America,  as  prepared  bv  the  Honorable 
Frederick  Douglass,  to  which  we  desire  your  name  attached.  I 
hope  yon  feel  able  to  sign  it.  \Ye  had  suggested  that  a  national 
convention  should  be  held  as  an  offset  to  the  convention  held  at 
Indianapolis.  The  general  judgment  was  against  the  policy  of  such 
a  course,  and  it  was  decided  instead  that  it  would  be  wiser  and 
more  effective  to  issue  an  address  signed  by  the  representative  men 
who  would  be  most  influential  with  the  element  thus  desired  to  be 
reached. 

If  voti  should  feel  able  to  sign  this  address,  and  we  earnestly  hope 
that  YOU  may,  as  Your  name  will  be  influential,  please  wire  me  to 
that  effect  on  receipt  of  this  letter. 

Very  truly   vours, 

J/S.  CLARKSON, 

I r  ice-Chair  man. 
\Vm.  II.   Johnson,  Albany,  X.  Y. 


I  \\(  nxnrnox AI.  RKprni.icAX  ('LCI;  OF  THE  CITY  OF  ALBANY. 
((  )rganized  in    1868.) 

ALBANY,  X.  Y..  Jauuar\  KJ,   1888. 
\V.\i.  II.  Jon  NSON  : 

DEAR  SIR. —  I  am  directed  to  inform  you  that  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Unconditional  Club,  held  January  10,  1888,  you  were  unanimously 
elected  an  active  member  thereof. 

You  are  respectfully  requested  to  attend  the  next  meeting  ol  the 
club,  January  j-jth.  and  sign  the  Constitution  and  ]>y-Laws. 

Very  respectfully, 

\Y1T.  11.  CULL, 

(  or  responding  Secretary. 

AI.I'.AXV,  November  5-  1864. 
MR.  WM.  11.  JOHNSON: 

SIR. —  At  a  meeting  of  the  Female  Luiuly  Society,  the  following 
resolution  was  unanimously  carried: 


}6  At'Tor.lOC.RArilY     ()K     DR.     WILLIAM     IILXRY    JOIIXSOX. 

Rcsokrd,  That  Mr.   \\'ni.  H.  Johnson  be  invited  to  address  said 
societv  at  their  coming  anniversary,  the  second  week  in  January. 
I 'lease  answer  immediately  and   oblige. 

Yours  respect full\', 

MRS.  LEY!  JOHNSON. 

President. 
MRS.  JAS.   A.    MAY. 

Secretary. 
i  i  i    I  .road  Street. 

The  Lundv  Society  presents  its  compliments  to  Mr.  Johnson, 
and  requests  him  to  accept  the  enclosed  trifle  tor  the  able  manner 
in  which  he  addressed  them  at  their  late  anniversary,  January 
twelfth. 

MRS.  LEVJ   1<  )HXSON. 

President. 
C.   MARY   HICKS, 

(  orrespoiiding  Secretory. 
Albany,  January  17,  186"=;. 


ALBANY,  X.  Y.,  May  i,  1888. 
M  R.  \YM.   1 1.  Joiixsox: 

DLAR  SIR. —  T  am  requested  by  the  Female  Lovejoy  Society,  to 
invite  von  to  be  the  orator  of  the  evening  at  our  forty-fourth  anni 
versary,  which  will  take  place  on  May  2<j,  1888,  at  Jackson  Corps 
Armory.  \Ye  sincerely  hope  yon  will  be  able  to  grant  us  our 
request.  1  Mease  send  answer. 

Respectfully  yours, 

MRS.  S.  A.   FRFFMAX, 
Xo.   i<)2  Livingston  Avenue.  Secretary. 


PHILADELPHIA,  XoTcmhcr  14,   1857. 
MR.  \  V  A  r .  H .  J  o  r  i  x  s  o  x : 

DLAR  SIR. —  I  have  the  honor  of  informing  you  that  a  meeting 
of  the  ]>anneker  Literary  Institute  held  at  their  room,  "  I'enne/.el 
Hall/'  Seventh  street,  below  Lombard,  Xovcmber  fifth,  the  board 
of  managers  reported  through  their  secretary,  your  name  for  mem 
bership,  which,  on  motion,  was  accepted.  The  stated  meetings 
of  the  institute  are  held  on  every  first,  and  debate  on  every  third, 
Thursday  of  each  month,  at  7.30  o'clock  r.  M.  The  room  of  the 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.  37 

institute  is  also  opened  on  every  Thursday  evening  at  the  above 
hour,  for  the  accommodation  of  its  members.  The  laws  require 
von  to  pav  an  entrance  fee  of  fifty  (50)  cents  and  a  monthly  due 
of  twelve  and  a  half  (121-2)  cents  until  after  the  1st  of  January, 
iS^S.  when  the  month! v  dues  will  be  raised  to  fifteen  (15)  cents. 

Yours,  etc., 

A.  W.  CAMPBELL, 

Corresponding  Secretary. 

P.   S.  —  The   entrance   fee   you   can    pay   on   or    before     the 
stated  meeting  to  Mr.    lacob  C.  White,   jr.,   R.  S. 


PHILADELPHIA,  June  22,   r86o. 
\Vi  I.I.IAM   II.  [oiixsox,  ESQ.  : 

DKAK  SIR. —  Through  the  secretary,  your  resignation  was  duly 
] (resented  to  the  institute,  and  T  must  urge  the  multiplicity  of  kindly 
feelings,  that  were  then  expressed,  as  the  greatest  hindrance  to 
their  mention  here.  Let  me,  however,  assure  you  that  a  unanimous 
feeling  of  regret  was  evidenced  in  the  speeches  of  the  members: 
and  that  it  were  an  effort  to  smother  the  truth,  were  I  to  omit 
recording  the  loss  that  we  have  sustained. 

I  feel  justified  in  acknowledging  your  ability  as  an  officer,  and 
I  shall  take  no  little  consolation  in  congratulating  any  organization 
to  which  von  mav  join  yourself:  believing  that  you  will  be  as  active 
and  honorable  in  it  as  the  Banneker  Institute  have  always 
found  vou. 

And  it  was  also,  on  motion, 

/vV.sv/T'tv/,  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be  tendered  to  you  for  the  able 
and  efficient  manner  in  which  you  filled  the  vice-presidency  of  the 
Banneker  Institute.  It  was.  you  will  believe,  unanimous! v  passed. 

T  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Verv  respectfully  yours,  etc., 

OCTAVIUS  V.  CATTO, 

Corresponding  Secretary  of  B.  I. 

P.  S. —  The  new  constitution  has  been  adopted;  the  by-laws  not 
yet  acted  upon. 

Yours,  O.  Y.  C. 

Second  P.  S. —  A  vote  of  thanks  was  given  you  for  the  books 
you  gave  the  institute. 

O.  V.  C. 


38          At'TomocKAiMiY  or   DR.   WILLIAM   IIKNRY  JOHNSON. 

ENKCl'TI  VK    M  ANSK  )X, 

\\".\sn  INGTON,  February  2,    1885. 

Till':   llo.x.   \\' i  LI. i  AM    1L  Jou.xsox: 

SIR.—  I  promised  von  a  picture'  of  President  C.  A.  Arthur  when 
I  returned  to  Washington.  I  never  forget  promises  I  may  give  or 
make.  I  have-  forwarded  to  your  address,  27  Maiden  Lane,  Albany, 
the  picture. 

Do  yon  intend  visiting  Washington  to  see  the  President-elect 
inaugurated? 

1  trust  vonr  fainilv  and  vonrself  are  enjoying  good  health. 

I  remain,  as  ever, 

Vonr  friend, 

ALECK   POWELL. 


LAW  OFFICES  OK  T.  McC'A.vrs  STHWART,  58  C'KDAU  STKKKT. 

Xi-:w  YORK,  .-//>/•//  3.   1891. 

MY  DKAK  MR.  JOHNSON. —  1  congratulate  you  heartily  upon 
emancipating  Afro- Americans  from  the  unjust  discrimination  of  the 
insurance  companies  of  the  State. 

Manv  hands  and  inanv  influences  hel|)ed,  hut,  as  general-in- 
chief,  you  commanded  the  forces,  and  von  deserve  supreme 
commendation. 

Yours  truly, 

T.  McCANT  STEWART. 


MR.  \\'M.  1 J.  JOIIXSON  : 

TrKsnAY    EVLNING,  October  31,    1865. 

Eound. —  Alfred  Thomas,  a  private  in  the  Second  Veteran 
Reserve  Regiment,  verv  carelessly  left  a  pocket-book  containing 
over  four  hundred  dollars  in  the  shaving  saloon  of  \Ym.  H.  Johnson, 
Maiden  Lane,  last  evening. 

Mr.  Johnson,  not  knowing  the  name  of  the  owner,  informed  us 
of  the  fact,  in  order  that  we  might  aid  in  the  discover}'  of  the  loser. 
lUit  Thomas,  in  his  search  for  the  pocket-book,  visited  Mr.  John 
son's  place  of  business  this  afternoon. 

It  was  fortunate  for  him  that  the  money  fell  into  an  honest  man's 
hands. —  [Albany  Evening  Jounal. 


A  I.EM, 


LOl'IS  MEN  AN  I). 
The  Grand  Old  Man. 


I 


m  l 
t 


tJ 
tf 


'RKi>Ei;iCK  j)on;i,Ass  MEMORIAL  HOSPITAL  AND  TRAINING  SCHOOL 

No.  1512  Lombard  Struct,   Philadelphia,   1'a. 


ArTonror.RAT'Tiv  OF   DR.  WTLLTAM   HENRY  JOHNSON.          43 

M  ox  DAY,  June  18,   1888. 

The  Xew  York  Press  correspondent  says:  \\'illiani  II.  Johnson 
calls  Lynch  the  most  eminent  colored  Republican  in  the  country. 
This  man  is  pretty  eminent  himself.  lie  is  the  Albany  barber  orator 
who  came  on  with  the  (irant  Club,  lie  is  tall  and  slim,  wears  a  blue 
suit  of  clothes,  a  white  plug  hat  and  full  whiskers.  He  has  been  a 
high  Mason,  a  leader  in  the  Knights  of  Labor  and  is  a  Republican 
State'  committeeman  at  large  of  New  York. —  [Chicago  Tribune. 


T  IS  K  KG  Kb:    XoK.MAI.    AX  I)    I.XDl   STRIAK    INSTITUTE. 

Tt'SKK< ;KK,  ALA.,  August  31,    1899. 
MR.  \\"M.  II.  JOHNSON,  27  Maiden  Lane,  Albany,  X.  Y.\ 

I)KAK  SIR. —  I  wish  to  thank  you  very  cordiall}'  for  the  very  warm 
sentiments  respecting  myself  and  ihe  work,  expressed  by  you  in  the 
Albany  Argus  of  August  22d.  It  is  always  encouraging  to  note 
that  there'  are  members  of  the  race  who  are  willing  to  concede  to 
every  man  his  due.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  completely  stunned  and 
shocked  I  was  by  the  report  sent  out  from  Chicago  to  the  effect 
that  I  had  been  denounced  by  the  Afro-American  Council.  Later 
information,  however,  revealed  the  fact  that  this  was  erroneous,  as 
only  two  members  were  engaged  in  what  T,  of  course,  consider 
rather  disreputable  business.  The  Council  itself  seems  to  have  put 
itself  on  record  unequivocally  by  the  passage  of  the  resolution  com 
mending  our  work  at  Tuskegee. 

Again  thanking  you  for  your  very  kind  word,   I   am. 
Yours  trul v. 

LU  )()KER  T.  \VAS1I1XGT(  >\. 


ALIJAXY.  August  22,    1864. 

Received  for  J.  Howard  King.  C.  \Y.  Armstrong  and  C.  T. 
Shepard,  committee,  one  hundred  dollars  from  \Vm.  H.  Johnson, 
on  subscription  for  procuring  substitutes  from  the  draft  ordered 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States  July  18.  i86r,  as  per  agree 
ment  appointing  said  committee. 

C.  T.  SHKl'ARD, 

Treasure)". 


44         AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  DR.  WILLIAM  HENRY  JOHNSON. 

MORNING  EXPRESS. 

ALBANY,  N.  Y.,  September  6,   1873. 

WILLIAM  11.  JOHNSON,  ESQ.: 

|)I-:.\R  SIR. —  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  YOU  that  certain  citizens, 
without  reference  to  political  preferences  —  being  desirous  of  pub- 
lically  manifesting  their  appreciation  of  the  distinguished  service 
you  have  rendered  the  colored  race,  as  well  as  to  attest  their  per 
sonal  regard  —  have  caused  a  portrait  of  yourself,  suitably 
inscribed,  to  be  presented  to  you.  The  same  is  now,  and  will 
continue  to  be,  on  exhibition  until  about  Thursday  next  at  the  store 
of  John  IMadwell,  after  which  time  it  will  be  subject  to  your  order. 
With  great  respect, 

THOS.  ELKLNS, 

CJidinncin  <>l  (  ///.:.'< 'its'  (  oinnii/lee. 


ALBANY,  September  [),   1^73. 
THOMAS  ELKINS,  ESQ.: 

Your  favor  of  the  6th  inst.  is  at  hand,  in  which  you  are  pleased 
to  inform  me  that  certain  of  my  fellow-citizens  have  caused  a  por 
trait  of  myself,  suitably  inscribed,  to  be  presented  to  me.  Permit 
me,  here,  sir,  to  say,  in  accepting  this  testimonial  of  the  high  regard 
of  my  neighbors,  to  assure  you — and  them  through  you  —  that 
words  at  my  command  are  inadequate  to  even  faintly  convey 
or  express  the  profound  and  unfeigned  thankfulness  of  my  grateful 
heart  at  the  assurance  that  my  poor  and  unpretentious,  but  well- 
meant,  efforts  for  amelioration  of  the  heretofore  dehumanizing  con 
dition  of  my  race  in  this  city  and  State  meet  the  high  approval  and 
commendation  of  the  people  with  whom  it  has  been  my  lot,  through 
("Jed's  providence,  to  live  and  labor. 

Yet,  I  indulge  the  hope  that  the  remainder  of  my  life  shall  be  so 
spent  in  laboring  for  and  in  devotion  to  the  advancement  of  the 
highest  and  best  interests  of  all  the  people  of  my  country,  and  of 
humanity,  religion  and  morality,  as  to,  in  some  small  degree,  at 
least,  commend  me  to  the  continuance  of  their  confidence  and 
esteem.  Thanking  you  personally,  sir,  for  the  interest  you  have 
uniformally  manifested  for  my  welfare,  1  have  the  honor  to  subscribe 
myself,  with  distinguished  consideration, 

Yours  truly, 

WAT.  IT  lOllNSON. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   DR.   WILLIAM   HHXRV   JOIIXSOX.          45 

TIIK   XKW   YORK    PRKSS. 

( Dailv  Ldition.) 
(Robert  P.  Portrer,  Editor.} 

FRIDAY,  September  14,   1888. 

\\"illiam  H.  Johnson  is  an  Albany  negro  —  for  that  is  what  he 
likes  to  be  called  —  who  will  talk  to  you  bv  the  hour  in  a  vigorous 
mellow  voice,  and  tell  you  a  hundred  picturesque  and  witty 
unanswerable  reasons  why  he  is  a  Republican,  and  why  every  other 
negro  ought  to  be  one.  lie  is  a  tallish,  slender  man,  with  full 
whiskers,  and  a  white  plug  hat  in  the  summer,  and,  with  all  his 
honors  of  masonry  and  politics  —  for  he  has  been  a  grand  master 
of  the  colored  Masons  of  Xew  York  and  is  now  the  only  committee- 
man  at  large  on  the  Republican  State  Committee  —  is  not  above 
running  his  barber  shop  and  leading  in  the  social  enjoyment  of  his 
neighbors,  lie  is  a  valued  member  of  the  stalwart  Grant  Club, 
and  went  to  Chicago  a  Depew  man.  Douglass  and  Lanston,  Bruce 
and  Lynch  know  and  admire  him.  He  has  just  received  a  letter  from 
another  Mississippi  friend  of  his.  James  I.  Spellman  writes  him 
that,  no  matter  what  the  outrages  perpetrated  upon  his  race  every 
day,  the  State  of  Jefferson  Davis  could  almost  be  carried  for  Ben 
I  larrison  and  protection,  if  there  were  to  be  a  fair  vote. 


TIIK  PHILADELPHIA  PRKSS. 

April  20,  1858. 

The  Literary  Congress  will  hold  its  first  stated  meeting  at  the 
hall,  southeast  corner  of  Xinth  and  Spring  Garden  streets,  on  the 
first  Wednesday  evening  in  Mav.  The  question  of  the  admission 
of  the  delegates  from  the  Philadelphia  IJanneker  Literary  Institute 
will  then  come  up.  The  "  Banneker  "  is  a  well-established  literary 
organization,  and  a  great  favorite  among  the  intelligent  colored 
population.  Mr.  \Ym.  H.  Johnson,  one  of  the  delegates  elected 
from  this  Institute,  is  well  known  throughout  the  community  as  an 
able  lecturer  and  powerful  debater.  \Ye  understand  that  consider 
able  opposition  will  be  made  against  the  admission  of  this  body, 
one  society  already  having  instructed  its  representatives  to  oppose 
any  motion  which  may  be  made  to  admit  it.  \Ye  have  no  opinion 
to  express  on  the  subject,  preferring  to  await  the  decision  of  the 
Congress  on  the  question  whether  color  or  literary  merit  is  to  be 
made  the  test  of  admission  in  this  case,  and  others  of  a  similar 


46  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.     WILLIAM     IIE.XRY    JOILXSON. 

character.  We  inadvertently  stated  the  other  day  that  Mr.  John  J. 
Elliott  had  been  elected  treasurer  of  the  Congress.  Air.  G.  Henry 
Davis,  of  the  Irving  Literary  institute,  was  elected  to  that  position, 
while  the  former  gentleman  was  selected  corresponding  secretary. 


27  MAIDKX  LAXE, 
ALBANY,  N.  Y.,  March  20,   1897. 
JACOB  C.  WHITE,  ESQ.,  1032  Lombard  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa.: 

Mv  DEAR  SIR  AND  FRIENDS. —  I  write  to  say  that  I  greatly 
appreciate  the  commendable  spirit  that  inspired  yourself  and  others 
to  establish  and  maintain  the  Douglass  Hospital  in  the  city  of  your 
and  my  youth.  J  desire  further  to  say  that  I  am  the  owner  oi  a 
plaster  bust  of  our  dear  friend,  the  late  Hon.  Charles  Stunner, 
which  was  modeled  by  Miss  Kdmonia  Lewis  at  Rome,  Italy,  and 
presented  to  me  by  the  artist  on  the  evening  of  August  24,  1875. 
in  this  city,  in  the  presence  of  a  select  audience  gathered  in  the 
A.  M.  E.  church.  It  was,  at  the.  request  of  1.  (iarland  Penn.  put 
on  exhibition  in  the  Xegro  Department  of  the  late  Atlanta  Expo 
sition,  and  is  a  work  of  art  I  highly  prize.  I  want  it  preserved 
after  I  have  been  "  gathered  unto  my  fathers,"  and  to  thai  end 
1  have  decided  (should  it  be  acceptable)  to  will  or  give  it  to  the 
Frederick  Douglass  Hospital,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  of  which  von 
have  charge.  The  only  expense  consequent  upon  its  acceptance 
will  be  for  packing  and  transportation. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  your  entire  success  in  this  praiseworthy 
venture  for  the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  the  needy  and 
deserving  of  the  race,  I  am,  my  dear  sir  and  friend,  with  sentiments 
of  high  personal  regard  and  esteem, 

(  ordially  and  sincerely  yours. 
WM.  II.   |(  ) 


PHILADELPHIA,  March  30,   18^7. 

Ah'  DEAR  JOILXSON. —  Your  kind  favor  of  the  2oth  inst.  came 
duly  to  hand.  I  thank  you  for  the  kind  words  which  vou  have  been 
pleased  to  speak  of  me,  and  commend  vou  for  the  public  spirit 
manifested  by  your  own  good  self. 

The  board  of  managers  of  the  Douglass  Hospital  will  meet  on 
the  evening  of  the  2d  prox.,  at  which  time  it  will  be  my  pleasure 


AUTOlilOGkAPHY    OF    DR.    \VMJJA.\L     IIKXRY    JOHNSON.  47 

to   formally   present   your  letter  to   me   and   also   your   gift   to   the 
hospital. 

With  many  thanks,   1   am, 

\  erv  sincerely  \'ours, 

|.  C.  WHITE. 


FRKDKKK   K        DOUGLASS       M'KMoRIAL       I  1  <  >SI'  IT  A  I.       AND       TRAINING 

SCHOOL,    151.2   Lo.Mi'.ARD  STRKKT. 

PHILADELPHIA,    .l/(/Y    I,    1897. 

1 1  ox.  W.M.   I  i.   IOHXSOX: 

DKAR  SIR. —  I  was  instructed  bv  the  hoard  of  managers  of  the 
Douglass  Hospital  at  their  last  monthly  meeting  to  inform  yon  of 
their  appreciation  of  vour  kind  offer.  It  would  afford  us  unbounded 
pleasure  to  possess  the  most  valuable  piece  of  art  which  you  have 
so  kindly  offered,  and  will  assure  you  that  our  care  of  the  same  shall 
be  nothing  short  of  a  protecting  character.  We  will  gladly  receive 
it  at  anv  time1  you  mav  find  it  convenient  to  part  with  the  same. 

Most  truly  yours, 

A.  A.  MOSSELL, 

Secretary. 


)OUGLASS     MEMORIAL     HOSPITAL     AND     TRAINING 
SCHOOL,    1512   LOMHARD  STRKKT. 

I'll  ILADKLIMI  I  A.    Odobcf   2$,    \&)~. 
[OIINSON, 

27  Maiden  Lane,  /ilbany,  N.  Y.: 

DKAR  SIR. —  'Hie  Douglass  Hospital  will  gives  its  annual  enter 
tainment  at  the  American  Academy  of  Music  in  this  city  on  the 
evening  and  night  of  December  sixteenth.  It  will  be  a  charity  ball; 
the  earl}-  part  of  the  evening  will  be  occupied  in  a  musical  and 
literary  entertainment  or  program.  We  are  negotiating  to  have 
Paul  Dunbar  as  the  literary  star.  Xow,  it  has  pleased  the  man 
agement  to  have  me  request  you  to  be  present  to  present  the  bust, 
which  you  were  so  kind  in  giving  us.  We  think  it  would  make  a 
fitting  scene  to  close  the  first  part  of  the  program.  If  you  wilt 
accept,  we  will  consider  ourselves  highly  honored  and  shall  see 
that  there  is  no  expense  you  shall  have  to  bear.  Kindly  wire  me 
your  acceptance  immediately,  as  there  is  little  time  left  us  to  get 


48  Al'ToniOCRAl'II  V    OK     DR.     WILLIAM     IILXKY    JoTINSoN'. 

our  bills  posted.  The  Academy  will  seat  four  thousand  and  it  will 
be  filled.  The  best  opportunity  we  can  ever  have  for  yon  to  present 
the  bust;  do  not  fail  to  accept  it. 

Ever  yours, 

A.  A.  MOSSELL. 


ALBANY,  X.  Y.,  October  27,  18^7. 
A.  A.  MOSSKLL,  ESQ.: 

DEAR  SIR. — Your  favor  of  the  28th  inst.  is  at  hand.  I  desire  to 
assure  you  and  your  associate  managers  of  the  Douglass  Hospital 
that  I  highly  appreciate  your  action  in  arranging  for  a  public 
presentation  and  acceptance  of  the  bust  of  the  lamented  Sunnier. 
This  action  gives  me  double  assurance  that  YOU  appreciate  the 
possession  of  that  artistic  production  of  the  gifted  Edmonia  Lewis, 
coming  to  you  through  me.  Your  program  for  December  six 
teenth,  doubtlessly,  will  be  unique  with  Paul  I  )unbar.  the  great 
negro  poet,  as  the  star,  the  presentation  of  Stunner  in  "  Terra 
Cotta  "  to  the  Douglass  Hospital;  thus  reviving  the  hope  that  the 
two  great  emancipators,  though  dead,  will  still  be  linked  together 
in  the  grateful  memory  of  the  living. 

My  dear  sir.  I  am  unable  to  express  the  pleasure  that  the  accept 
ance  of  your  invitation  would  afford  me.  It  is,  therefore,  with 
unfeigned  regret  that  1  am  compelled,  owing  to  circumstances  over 
which  I  have  no  control,  together  with  poor  health  which  renders 
it  highly  improbable  that  1  will  be  able  to  be  absent  from  mv  home 
a  single  day  this  winter,  to  inform  you  of  my  inabilitv  to  be  with 
you  on  your  annual  entertainment  at  the  American  Academy  of 
Music  in  your  city.  Still,  I  trust  that  that  fact  will  not  interfere 
with  the  public  presentation.  You  have  all  the  data  in  your  posses 
sion  to  enable  a  substitute  to  perform  that  duty,  and,  I  think,  you 
will  find  no  difficulty  in  selecting  a  gentleman  in  your  city  willing 
to  do  that  for  me.  If  you  conclude  to  accept  my  suggestion  along 
this  line,  I  leave  the  selection  absolutely  to  you.  I  am, 

Very  truly  yours, 

WM.  IT.    |01L\S(  )\. 


The  life-size  bust  of  Hon.  Charles  Simmer,  the  abolitionist  and 
friend  of  Frederick  Douglass,  was  presented  to  the  Douglass  Hos 
pital  (last  evening).  The  speech  of  presentation  was  made  by 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    IIEXRY    JOIIXSOX.  4g 

Rev.  P.  O.  Cornell.  The  gift  was  received  on  behalf  of  the  institu 
tion  by  Rev.  J.  1*.  Sampson.  The  bust  is  the  work  of  Miss 
Edmonia  Lewis,  a  colored  sculptress  of  Rome,  Italy.  It  was  the 
gift  of  \Ym.  H.  Johnson,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  presentation  was 
made  on  the  occasion  of  the  charity  ball  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Douglass  Hospital  at  the  Academy  of  Music. —  [Philadelphia  Press, 
December  17,  1897. 

PHILADELPHIA,  February  14,  1853. 

MY  DEAR  Sox. —  I  take  this  present  opportunity  of  writing  you 
a  k'\v  lines  to  inform  you  that  I  received  your  most  kind  and  most 
affectionate  letter,  and  was  very  glad  to  hear  from  you  and  your 
dear  wife.  I  am  very  happy  to  hear  that  you  are  doing  well,  and  1 
hope  that  you  will  remember  the  prayers  that  1  often  put  up  for 
you  when  you  was  present  with  me,  and  my  prayers  are  continually 
going  up  to  ( rod  for  the  conversion  of  you  and  your  wife  that  you 
both  might  be  brought  in  the  fold  of  God  and  be  true  children  of 
the  kingdom. 

Your  sister  is  well  and  sends  her  best  love  to  you  and  her  dear 
sister,  Sarah,  and  she  would  like  to  see  you  both.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mall  are  well,  and,  1  think,  they  would  like  to  see  you  both  very 
much.  All  the  inquiring  friends  join  in  love  to  you.  I  would  like 
you  to  write  as  often  as  you  can,  for  1.  am  delighted  to  hear  from 
you.  Direct  your  letters  the  same,  342  Chestnut  street.  T  must 
come  to  a  close.  Xo  more  at  present,  but  still  remain 

Your  affectionate  mother, 

PATSY  JOHNSON. 


Air.  Johnson  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  F.  Stewart  in  this 
city  August  2,  1852,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  lluntington,  of  the  Clinton 
Square  Presbyterian  Church. 


OFFICE   OF  THE  AFRICAX   CIVILIZATION   SOCIETY,   ROOM   Xo.   26 

I* i RLE  HOUSE. 

XEW  YORK,  November  27,   1863. 
MR.  \V\r.  11.  JOHNSON,  ESQ.: 

DEAR  SIR. —  Permit  me  hereby  to  extend  you  i  most  cordial 
invitation,  in  the  name  of  our  society,  to  attend  the  celebration  of 
the  President's  proclamation  in  the  great  hall  of  the  Cooper  Insti 
tute,  Xew  York  city,  on  the  ist  day  of  January.  1864.  Much  of  the 


50  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OK     DR.     WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

best  talent  in  New  York,  Brooklyn  and  other  cities  will  be  engaged 
for  the  occasion.  An  early  reply  to  this  note  will  oblige  your 
friend, 

HENRY  .M.  WILSOX, 
Secretary  African  Civilization  Society. 

Permit  your  name  to  be  used  as  vice-president. 


PHILADELPHIA,  January  26,  1864. 
MR.  WM.  H.  JOHNSON: 

DEAR  SIR. — Yours  came  to  hand;  enclosed  I  forward  the  photos 
according  to  direction.  I  am  under  nianv  obligations  to  you  for 
your  kind  consideration ;  wishing-  you  great  big  success  in  all  you 
may  undertake  for  the  good  of  our  people  and  the  salvation  of  the 
I  nion,  T  am, 

With  high  regard, 

'  I).  P..  BOWSER. 


ALHAXY,  X.  Y.,  July  4,  1865. 
\ Y A r.  IT .  J o 1 1 x s o x : 

DKAK  FRIEXD. —  The  text  of  the  nation  is  no  reconstruction  of 
the  rebel  States,  save  upon  the  basis  of  free  and  absolute  suffrage 
of  all  inhabitants. 

Yours  for  enfranchisement, 

CALVIN  FAIRRAXK. 

Mr.  Fairbank  suffered  twentv  years'  imprisonment  at  the  South 
for  running  fugitives  Xorth. 


LTP.ERTE.  EGALITK. 

REFTIlLTOrE    DTlAYTI. 

HAVTIAX  BUREAT  OK  EMJT.KATION,  Xo  8  WASHINGTON  BIMLDI.XG, 
22 r  WASHINGTON  STREET. 

BOSTON,  June  18,  1861. 
WAI.  H.  JOHNSON,  ESQ.:     • 

DEAR  SIR. —  If  llayti  declares  war  against  Spain,  T  will  go  as  a 
volunteer,  and  duly  notify  you  of  the  time  of  sailing.  T  am  in  hopes 
that  peace  will  be  preserved,  but,  if  not,  we  will  be  there  to  see. 

Very  truly  your  friend, 

'  TAMES  REDPATH. 


ArTOKKX'.K. \IMIY   OF   DR.   WILLIAM   HENRY  JOHNSON.  51 

THE  XEW  YORK  AGE. 

April  n,  1891. 
(Signed  by  Governor  Hill.) 

The  insurance  bill  recently  passed  by  the  Xew  York  Legisla 
ture,  which  was  fathered  and  engineered  through  mainly  by 
Air.  \Ym.  H.  Johnson,  of  the  Afro-American  League  of  Albany,  has 
been  signed  bv  Governor  Hill  and  now  is  a  law.  Mr.  Johnson 
deserves  the  thanks  of  the  race  for  his  good  work  in  securing  the 
enactment  of  this  law. 

XEW  YORK,  January  31,  1891. 

DEAR  SIR.- — 1  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  twenty-ninth, 
and  contents  dnlv  noted.  1  have  seen  Lawyer  Charles  Taylor, 
Mills  Building;  Lawyer  I).  A I  aeon  \Yebster,  33  Line  street,  of  this 
citv.  and  have  made  a  personal  request  of  Mr.  Fortune  to  do  all 
that  they  could  to  aid  you  in  your  effort  to  have  the  "Chase  Insur 
ance  I>ill"  enacted  into  a  law.  All  of  them  have  promised  me. 
to  take  a  personal  interest  in  the  matter,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
but  what  thev  will  do  so,  and  that  you  will  have  all  the  moral  sup 
port  necessary  from  this  part  of  the  State  amongst  the  Afro- 
Americans  in  behalf  of  the  bill  referred  to  above. 

I  am  only  sorrv  that  my  business  is  of  such  a  nature  that  T  can 
not  go  around  personally  and  get  a  number  of  signatures  to  a 
petition  urging  the  passage  of  this  bill. 

I  would  suggest  that  you  call  on  Assemblyman  Lawrence  from 
Xew  York  city,  using  my  name,  as  the  president  of  the  Southern 
Beneficial  League  in  this  city,  and  say  to  him  that,  if  he  supports 
this  measure,  it  may  be  the  means  of  his  returning  to  the  Legisla 
ture,  lie  knows  that  it  was  the  disaffection  amongst  the  Republi 
cans  in  his  district  which  was  the  cause  of  his  election. 
Y<  inrs  truly, 

GE(  ).  \YM.  LATTIMORR, 

66  E.vchciugc  f'hicc,  A'.  T. 

To  DR.  \Y.  i  1.  [OIIXSON,  ALP.AXY,  X.  Y. 


TROY,  April  m,   1873. 
\\'M.  II.  IOIINSON,  ESQ.: 

MY  DEAR  LRIEND. —  Your  very  kind  letter  has  been  received, 
for  which  please  accept  my  heartiest  thanks.  T  send  you  kind  con 
gratulations  for  the  success  with  which  your  arduous  labors  have 


52  AUTOTUOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

been  crowned.  May  your  memory  ever  be  fresh  in  the  hearts  of 
an  injured  people,  and  may  you  live  long  to  see  the  ultimate  triumph 
of  your  desires  enjoyed  by  a  truly-deserving  people.  Should  the 
Governor  fail  to  sign  it,  it  does  not  diminish  any  of  your  deserved 
appreciation.  My  wife  greatly  rejoices  in  your  success.  Mr.  Rich 
seems  to  be  pleased  with  your  success.  Mr.  Baltimore  seems  to 
be  glad.  I  also  thank  you  for  the  New  York  Insurance  Report. 
You  have  my  heartiest  wishes  for  your  prosperity  and  success. 
Please  remember  me  kindly  to  your  wife  and  family. 
I  remain  with  Christian  kindness, 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

REV.    [.  A.   PRIME. 


NEW  YORK,  April  24,   1873. 

DEAR  SIR. —  The  citizens  of  New  York  intend  to  commemorate- 
the  passage  of  the  Civil  Rights  Hill,  at  Cooper  Institute,  on  the 
evening  of  the  fifteenth  May  next  —  and,  as  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  on  invitations  and  speakers  • —  recognizing  the  important 
part  which  you  filled  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  bill,  I  respect 
fully  ask,  in  the  name  of  the  committee,  that  you  will  consent  to  be 
one  of  the  speakers  on  that  occasion.  Hoping  that  you  will  com 
municate  a  favorable  answer  by  return  mail,  1  have  the  honor  to  be, 
with  respect, 

Yours, 

CHAS.  L.  REASON. 

242  East  53<i  Street. 

I  have  invited  Major-General  J.  W.  I  lusted  to  be  one  of  the 
speakers.  Please  suggest  the  name  of  a  member  of  the  Senate. 

Yours, 

C.  L.  R. 
\YM.  H.  JOIIXSON,  ESQ., 

Janitor  Senate  Cliatnber. 


CUSTOM   HOUSE,   NE\V  YORK  COLLECTOR'S   OFFICE. 

20  March,  1873. 

FRIEND  JOHNSON.- — I  send  congratulations  on  the  passage 
(through  the  Assembly)  of  your  bill;  you  have  worked  hard  and 
deserve  all  the  praise  that  can  be  bestowed  by  a  grateful  con- 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  53 

stitiRMicv.  If  convenient- to  yon,  will  you  send  me,  through  the 
mail,  the  particulars  how  the  vote  stood,  who  voted  for  and  who 
voted  against  the  bill,  and  oblige, 

Your  friend, 

SAMUEL  W.  CLAY. 


SEVENTH  CENSUS  OF  THE  I/NITED  STATES. 
J  )E1'ARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR,  CENSUS  OFFICE. 

WASHINGTON,  January  27,  1891. 

SIR. —  Referring  to  your  letter  of  the  24th  hist.,  requesting 
information  as  to  the  comparative  longevity  of  the  colored  and 
white  races,  as  shown  by  the  recent  census,  you  are  advised  that 
the  complications  necessary  to  determine  the  facts  have  not  suffi 
ciently  progressed  at  this  time  to  afford  you  any  information  upon 
the  subject.  It  will  probably  be  about  six  to  eight  months  before 
the  figures  will  be  available. 

If  you  do  not  particularly  desire  the  results  of  the  present  census, 
you  may  find  some  interesting  comparisons  concerning  the  expecta 
tion  of  life  of  the  two  races  on  page  cxliv,  volume  12  of  the  reports 
of  the  Tenth  Census,  which  you,  no  doubt,  have  in  the  treasury 
library. 

Verv  respectfully, 

ROBERT  P.  PORTER. 

WILLIAM.  H.  JOHNSON,  .llhanv,  X.  }\ 


LETTERS  FROM  A  COLORED  SOLDIER. 
(Xo.   IV.     (  )n   the  held  of  battle.) 

February  9,  1862. 

EDITORS  OF  THE  P.I.NK  AND  PALM,  BOSTON,  MASS. —  The  Burn- 
side  expedition  has  been  gloriously  successful.  The  rebels  have 
been  defeated  and  driven  from  Roanoke  Island.  On  Friday  our 
fleet  came  to  anchor  in  Albemarle  sound  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  The 
rebels  fired  into  the  fleet  from  a  battery  on  the  shore.  The  gun 
boats  responded  with  vigor. 

4  P.  M.— The  bombardment  is  progressing  with  great  fury. 

5  P.  M.— We  are  gaining  upon  the  rebels;  our  troops  are  being 
landed  in  small  boats  in  the  face  of  the  enemies'  batteries. 


54  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.    WfLLTAM    TTEXRY     lOfFXSOX. 

9  i*.  M. —  We  arc  on  the  island;  the  enemy  is  held  in  check:  hos 
tilities  have  ceased  for  the  night. 

Satnrdav,  10  A.  M. —  The  battle  has  been  resumed;  the  rebel 
land  battery  is  being  engaged  by  onr  troops;  the  bombardment  is 
still  going  on. 

1.30  P.  M. —  The  rebels  have  been  driven  from  the  batteries  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The  held  is  ours;  we  are  pursuing  the 
rebels. 

ii  P.  M. —  Two  thousand  rebels  have  unconditionally  sur 
rendered.  It  is  the  end  of  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the 
campaign. 

Our  victor\-  has,  indeed,  been  brilliant,  but  we  have  paid  dearly 
for  it.  Our  loss  is  about  thirty  killed,  among  whom  is  a  colonel 
and  a  lieutenant-colonel,  and  a  number  of  line  officers.  \Ye  have  in 
the  hospital  between  seventy-rive  and  eighty  wounded;  they  are 
all  doing  well.  The  enemy's  loss  I  have  not  ascertained,  but  it  has 
been  considerable.  1  counted  ten  dead  in  one  battery  myself. 
( ).  Jennings  Wise,  son  of  General  Wise,  is  one  of  our  prisoners,  and 
lie  is  mortally  wounded. 

w.  ri. ;., 

Jiiglilli  Colored  I 'oliinlccrs. 
Headquarters,  Fort  Kenno,  Uoanoke  Island,  X.  C. 


LETTER   FROM    MR.   WM.  H.  JOUNSOX. 

ALBANY,  April  15,   1863. 
FnrruRs  STANDARD  AXD  STATESMAN: 

GENTLEMEN. —  I  left  Albany  last  Thursday  morning  with  forty- 
five  Xegroes  for  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  (Colored)  Regiment.  \\  e 
arrived  at  Camp  Meigs,  Readville,  the  same  evening,  and  were 
welcomed  by  five  hundred  and  odd  fully-equipped  and  well- 
drilled  colored  soldiers,  under  command  of  Colonel  R.  (i.  Shaw. 
I  handed  over  my  command  to  the  officer  of  the  day,  and  then  pro 
ceeded  to  learn  the  condition  of  the  cam]),  the  men  in  the  camp 
and  things  in  general.  The  regiment  is  in  barracks  on  a  beautiful 
meadow,  which  is  situated  on  the  rise  of  ground  distant  one  and 
one-half  miles  from  Readville,  and  but  a  stone's  throw  from  the  line 
of  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad.  The  barracks  are  well 
constructed,  light  and  warm;  there  are  no  better  in  the  country. 
Each  house  is  furnished  with  a  camp  stove,  elevated  'bunks,  one 


lr->  ED  M  ON  I A  L.KWI: 
Of  Koine.  Ttalv, 


JOHN  BROWN. 
His  <oul  \*  inarching 


(tCTAYH  S  V.  CATTO, 
Of  Philudoljihia,  Pa. 


PRESIDENT  McKINLEY, 

Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the   United  States. 

Surrounded  by  his  trusted  Lieutenants,  representing  both  branches  of  the  service  in  the 
Spanish-American  War, 


BOOKER    T.    WASHINGTON. 

Of  Mic  United  Slates  of  America. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    PR.    WTLLTAM    TTENRY    JOHNSON.  59 

coverlet,  with  straw:  one  rubber  blanket,  one  woolen  blanket  for 
each  man,  and  the  men  are  furnished  with  a  full  set  of  accoutre 
ments,  such  as  the  government  vouchsafes  to  her  white  volunteers. 
The  men  seem,  without  one  exception,  to  be  not  only  contented 
with  their  condition,  but  are  proud  to  be  numbered  with  the 
defenders  of  their  country.  The  officers  are.  men  who  understand 
one  another,  and  the  best  of  feeling  is  cultivated  by  them. 

The  regiment  has  a  dress  parade  at  5  o'clock  p.  M.  every  day, 
and  shows  indications  ot  discipline  and  prompt  military  evolution. 
Flic  regiment  numbers,  rank  and  file,  635  men. 

\V.\I.   11.    |t  )1IXS(  )\. 


I  )AILV  KNICKERBOCKER. 
(Albany,  Saturday  Morning-,  November  25,  1871.) 

COLORED  MILITARY  COMPANY. 

Mr.  William  lohnson,  a  colored  veteran  ol  the  late  war,  has  been 
instrumental  in  organizing  a  military  company  in  this  city.  The 
work  was  accomplished  night  before  last,  when  the  following 
officers  were  elected  to  the  Albany  Military  Association:  Civil 
president,  ( r.  L.  Morgan;  secretaries,  K.  L.  I'urns,  William  Stanly; 
treasurer,  ( iideon  Lippitt;  military  captain,  William  II.  Johnson; 
first  lieutenant.  Whitefield  Wilson;  second  lieutenant,  Charles  Bell; 
first  sergeant,  J.  R.  Jones;  sergeants,  Henry  Morgan,  Thomas 
Casev,  V..  T.  Morgan,  John  Lodge;  corporals,  Abram  Myers,  Levi 
Ricks,  Anthonv  1 'arsons,  lames  Lucus.  L.  j.  \Yatson,  John  Taylor, 
Henry  Rees,  R.  |.  Kd  wards:  musicians.  W.  V..  Tomsine,  Robert 
lackson. 


60  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY     [OITNSON. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  COUNTY  OF  ALP.AXY  HAS  A  COLORED  POPULATION  OF  AHOUT 
1,300.  THEY  ENGAGE  IN  ALL  THE  ORDINARY  PURSUITS,  AND 
ARE  CREDITABLY  REPRESENTED  IN  THE  PROFESSIONS. 

They  often  achieve  comfortable  positions  in  life,  and  are,  as  a 
elass,  honest,  industrious  and  law-abiding.  Thev  have  not  to  con 
tend  against  the  race  prejudice  that  exists  in  some  cities.  Coining 
here  originally  as  slaves,  they  have  passed  through  the  successive 
stages  of  emancipation  and  elevation  to  citizenship.  The  first  col 
ored  Baptist  church  in  this  city  stood  opposite  where  the  two- 
steepled  church  now  stands,  about  1815.  The  next  church  was 
built  in  Hamilton  street,  and  the  minister's  name  was  Nathaniel 
Paul.  The,  colored  people  had  a  Wilberforce  school.  The  first 
teacher  was  an  Irishman,  by  the  name  of  McCabe;  then  Air.  Bassett 
was  the  teacher;  and  then  Thomas  Paul.  John  O.  Allen  was  the 
last  teacher  of  that  proscribed  school.  The  admission  of  colored 
children  with  equal  privileges  with  the  whites  in  the  common 
schools  of  this  State,  under  the  operation  of  the  "  Civil  Rights  Law 
of  1873,"  brought  the  Wilberforce  to  a  close. 

"Pinkster  I)a\  "  was  in  Africa  a  religious  day,  partly  pagan  and 
partly  Christian,  like  our  Christmas  dav.  Many  of  the  old  colored 
people,  then  in  Albany,  were  born  in  Africa,  and  would  dance  their 
wild  dances  and  sing  in  their  native  language. 

"Pinkster"  festivities  took  place  usually  in  May,  and  lasted  an 
entire  week.  It  began  the  Monday  following  Whit-Sunday  of  the 
Catholic  and  Episcopal  churches,  and  was  the  carnival  of  the  Afri 
can  race,  in  which  they  indulged  in  unrestrained  merriment  and 
revelry.  The  main  and  leading  spirit  was  "  Charley  of  the  Pinkster 
Hill,"  who  was  brought  from  Angola,  in  the  Guinea  Gulf,  in  his 
infant  days,  and  purchased  by  a  rich  merchant  living  on  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  Hudson.  "King  Charles"  was  said  to  have  royal 
blood  in  his  veins. 

The  Beau  Brummel  of  the  day  was  Adam  Blake,  then  body  ser 
vant  to  the  Old  Patroon,  and  a  grand  master  of  ceremonies  he  was. 

The  dancing  master  and  music  was  peculiar.  The  main  instru 
ment  was  a  sort  of  '  kettle-drum,"  a  wooden  article  called  an  eel-pot, 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  6l 

with  a  sheep-skin  drawn  tightly  over  one  end.  Aside  this  sat  Jackey 
Quackenboss,  beating  lustily  with  his  hands  and  repeating  the  ever 
wild,  though  euphonic,  cry  of  l>  Hi-a-bomba,  bomba,  bomba,"  in 
full  harmonv  with  the  trununing  sounds  of  his  eel-pot. 

Air.  lackson,  a  colored  man,  was  at  one  time  the  principal  baker 
in  Albanv;  and  a  teamster,  by  the  name  of  B.  Lattimore,  got  to  be 
a  man  of  property.  Still  there  were  but  few  colored  voters  in  this 
county  under  the  old  law,  requiring  a  8250  property  qualification. 
(  )ne  of  the  great  institutions  of  the  Northern  States  in  slavery  times 
was  the  great  "  Underground  Railway."  Xo  modern  railway  ever 
had  so  manv  lines,  so  many  trains,  so  many  stations,  or  so  many 
agents  or  conductors.  It  was  very  exclusive,  for  its  passengers 
were  all  colored  people.  It  started  anywhere  and  everywhere  in 
the  Slave  States  and  always  ended  in  Canada.  Xo  through  route 
ever  had  such  a  signal  light,  for  it  ran  its  trains  by  the  north  star. 
Every  genuine  lover  of  liberty  was  a  stockholder,  and  every  stock 
holder  was  a  minute-man.  Of  course,  every  true  black  man  was  a 
charter  member.  The  most  noted  agent  at  the  Albany  station 
was  Stephen  Meyers.  Me  was  born  a  slave  in  Rensselaer 
county  in  1800,  in  the  family  of  Dr.  Eights,  but  was  soon  liberated 
by  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  this  State  in  1827.  Thousands  of 
slaves  reached  Canada  through  his  aid.  He  enlisted  the  first  com 
pany  of  colored  men  from  Albany,  upwards  of  forty,  but  Governor 
Morgan  would  not  accept  them,  and  they  went  to  the  front  as  a 
part  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment.  Some  of  his 
principal  assistants  were  John  G.  Steward,  Charles  R.  Morton. 
William  H.  Topp,  William  P.  Mclntyre,  William  H.  Matthews, 
1'rimus  Robinson.  Benjamin  Cutler,  George  Morgan  and  'Dr. 
Elkins,  all  of  whom  have  passed  away.  The  latter  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Andrews,  of  Massachusetts,  as  medical  examiner  in 
the  Fifty-fourth  and  Fifty-fifth  Regiments.  Dr.  Elkins  went  to 
Liberia  and  brought  home  valuable  collections  of  minerals,  shells, 
and  curiosities.  Joseph  A.  Smith,  born  in  South  Carolina,  has 
spent  much  o.f  his  life  in  this  section,  trusted  and  respected  by  the 
best  citizens.  James  C.  Matthews,  the  colored  lawyer,  has  a  pro 
fessional  standing  and  record  that  are  an  honor  to  any  man  that 
achieves  them. 

Adam  Blake,  the  2cl,  late  proprietor  of  the  Kenmore  Hotel,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Albany,  April  6.  1830.  He  died  September  /. 
1881.  He  was  the  richest  and  best-known  business  man  of  his 
race  in  this  county.  Mr.  Blake  received  a  grammar  school  educa 
tion.  He  was  a  born  hotel-keeper. 


()2  AI'TOHIOCR. \IMIV    OF     1)U.     \\I1JJA.M     IIKXKY    JOIIXSOX. 

The  Albany  Female  Lundy  Society  was  organized  in  the  city  of 
Albany,  June  19,  1833,  by  a  few  earnest  and  benevolent  colored 
ladies  for  mutual  benefit  and  the  development  of  social,  intellectual 
and  religious  principles.  It  has  had  an  unbroken  existence  for 
years,  continually  growing  in  strength  and  usefulness.  \\  hile  offi 
cers  are  elected  annually,  only  four  persons  have  been  elected 
presidents  of  the  association  in  these  sixty-seven  years;  Mrs. 
Catherine  March,  Mrs.  Levi  Johnson,  Mrs.  Michael  Douge,  and 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Johnson. 

The  Lovejoy  Society  of  Albany  is  also  composed  of  colored 
ladies,  and  while  not  so  numerous  nor  so  old  as  the  "  Lundy's."  has 
a  kindred  purpose  and  deserves  commendation.  Mrs.  Whitfield 
Wilson  is  the  president. 

Jephthah  Lodge,  Xo.  13,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  constituted  in  the  city 
of  Albany  on  the  20th  of  December,  1860,  under  a  warrant  from 
the  M.  W.,  Grand  Lodge  (colored)  of  the  State  of  Xew  York.  The 
record  of  this  Lodge  is  good.  Four  of  her  members  have  been  elected 
Grand  Masters  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  this  State,  namely,  Samuel 
R.  Scottson,  William  H.  Johnson,  33d,  [olm  Devo  and  F.  I>.  Irving. 

Philomathean  Lodge,  711,  G.  I*.  (.).  of  (  ).  F.  Dispensation 
granted  July,  1844. 

To-day  there  are  probably  in  the  neighborhood  of  2,000  Afro- 
Americans  in  Albany,  and  they  represent  nearly  all  the  trades  and 
professions. 

There  is  the  Van  Yranken  family,  two  brothers  of  which,  Frank 
and  Frederick  A.,  are  in  the  merchant  tailoring  business;  the  third, 
Charles  FT.,  is  head  of  an  extensive  city  carpet  department,  and  the 
fourth,  Edgar  S.,  operates  a  large  tonsorial  establishment.  All  are 
taxpayers. 

John  Lodge,  the  caterer,  owns  property:  and  Mrs.  Fleanora 
TFardin,  on  Txnox  street. 

Tn  business  lines  the  Afro-American  in  Albanv  has  made  himself 
a  name.  There  are  a  number  who  occupy  responsible  positions. 
Among  them  mav  be  mentioned  John  T.  Chapman,  who  for  years 
has  been  connected  with  Leonard  &  Son;  George  i'ayn,  who  is 
located  at  the  power-house  of  the  Albany  Railroad  in  Watervliel: 
Miss  Lottie  Tayn  and  Mrs.  Tames  Gardner,  who  operate  extensive 
dressmaking  establishments;  Fdward  P>.  Irving,  head-waiter  at  the 
Ten  Fyck,  is  said  by  his  friends  to  be  a  royal  entertainer  at  his  fine 
home  on  Lafayette  street. 

Mr.  William  IT.  Rrcnt,  the  genial  head-waiter  of  the  Stanwix  TTalk 
is  a  princely  good  fellow.  Tie  was  born  at  Brenfield,  Maryland. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    \\TLUAM    HliXRY    JOHNSON.  63 

July  21,  1844.  Like  all  old-time  Southerners  now  living1  North,  he 
maintains  the  traditional  characteristics  of  the  Southern  gentleman. 

Ed.  Duncan,  he  of  the  Kenmore.  \Yhat  of  him?  Ask  Messrs. 
Brent  and  Irving;  the}'  will  not  be  likely  to  answer  you,  but  shrug 
their  shoulders.  They  both  tip  their  hats  to  Ed.,  but  keep  tabs  on 
this  aggressive  young  head-waiter. 

Then  there  is  Thomas  Campbell,  head-porter  of  the  State  Capitol, 
an  outspoken,  defiant  Republican,  who  shoots,  every  time  he  dis 
cusses  politics,  straight  from  the  shoulder;  his  principal  aim  is  to 
hit  the:  colored  Democrat.  Among  his  trusted  helpers  at  the  Capi 
tol  are  Messrs.  A.  P.  Simpson,  president  of  the  Excelsior  Republican 
Club,  and  Samuel  G.  Hardy.  Benj.  Franklyn,  Peter  Lawrence  and 
Alfred  (lay  nor.  Air.  John  E.  Bruce,  the  versatile  syndicate  news 
paper  correspondent,  is  a  unique  figure  hereabout.  He  is  a  recent 
comer,  but  is  welcome.  I  want  him  to  stay.  Sometimes  he  has 
been  with  me,  and  often  against  me,  still  I  do  not  care  for  that.  Mr. 
Bruce  is  all  right;  he  is  intellectual  and  aggressive;  interested,  as  [ 
am,  in  the  development  of  our  race  along  the  highest  intellectual 
line.  He  is  for  the  maintenance  of  the  integrity  of  our  country's 
execution. 

Mr.  John  Caldwell,  the  Albany  correspondent  of  Mr.  T.  Thomas 
Kortune's  Xcw  York  Age,  is  another  highly  respectable  citizen. 

Edward  Abrams  is  an  electrotyper.  and  a  master  of  his  business. 
lie  is  engaged  with  The  Centurv  Plate  and  Printing  Co.,  of  which 
Mr.  S.  1C.  Hampton  is  general  manager. 

Mr.  \Ym.  H.  Van  Alstyne  is  an  aggressive  and  creditable  member 
of  the  business  end  of  our  colored  colon v.  He  is  engaged  at 
Keeler's  Hotel,  and  has  oversight  of  the  toilet  and  boot  and  shoe 
dressing  departments  of  that  immense  and  first-class  hotel.  1 1  e 
also  has  a  branch  department  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street. 

Mr.  Louis  Topp  is  night  clerk  of  the  Kenmore  Hotel,  and  his 
genial  and  business-like  methods  secure  for  him  the  highest  appro 
bation  of  the  proprietors  and  guests. 

J.  Y\  .  Price,  of  Congress  street,  holds  a  responsible  position  on 
the  X.  Y.  C.  and  H.  R.  Railroad,  and  is  a  leader  in  the  social  swim. 

Mr.  Robert  M.  Madison,  confidential  man  and  private  chef 
of  tin.1  1).  &  H.  Railroad  Company,  is  held  in  high  esteem  bv  Yice- 
President  Horace  Young.  Esq.:  also  bv  all  who  know  him.  He 
resides  with  his  family  in  a  handsome  residence  on  Second  street. 

Stafford  Lippitt  is  one  of  our  solid  young  business  men.  His 
mother  resides  in  her  own  beautiful  home  on  Washington  avenue. 

Then    there    are    Messrs.    A.    C.    Green,    Hcnrv    Cross,    Samuel 


64  AUTOP.IOr.RAPTIY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM    1TKXKY    JOIIXSOX. 

Branch,  C.  C.  Oatfield,  tonsorial  artists,  at  31  Orange  street; 
Ephriam  Frisby,  Howard  La  Tour,  Alexander  Phillips,  Walter  K 
Wilson,  all  occupying-  the  confidences  and  respect  of  the  community. 

Then  there  is  our  Henry  Pinkney,  Governor  Roosevelt's  confi 
dential  and  all-round  man.  Henry  is  a  little  fellow,  not  like  the 
Dutchman's  flea,  but  is,  on  the  other  hand,  always  in  the  way  when 
duty  calls  him  to  attend  to  business. 

Mr.  James  A.  May,  of  Second  street,  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
respected  of  our  fellow-citizens.  lie  has  occupied  the  position  of 
head-pantryman  on  the  People's  Line  steamers  for  many  years. 
There  are  few  people  who  know  that  Air.  May  has  grown  a  beard 
that  by  actual  measurement  is  twenty  inches  long.  When  at  work 
the  whisker  is  plaited  and  hidden  in  his  bosom,  but,  when  attending 
church  or  a  social  gathering,  he  combs  it  out  and  down.  It  is  then 
his  venerable  appearance  reminds  you  of  pictures  of  the  patriarchs 
of  old. 

The  A.  M.  K.  church  is  situated  in  a  beautiful  location  on  Ham 
ilton  street.  Its  pastor  is  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Kane.  There  is  a  Chris 
tian  Endeavor  Association  connected  with  this  church,  and  is  in  a 
prospering  and  progressive  condition.  Mrs.  S.  Hamlin,  the  efficient 
organizer  and  leader,  is  a  Christian  woman  who  deserves  the  high 
est  commendation. 

Air.  Richard  Gardiner  is  the  chorister  and  Miss  Fmma  Nichols 
is  the  organist. 

Air.  John  1).  Nichols  is  the  local  preacher;  he  is  a  man  of  marked 
ability  and  ripe  learning;  he  occupies  the  position  of  shipping  clerk 
in  the  Regents'  Department  in  the  State  Capitol. 

Our  own  High  School  has  graduates  from  the  colony,  among 
whom  are:  Airs.  Clarence  Miller,  Aliss  Alfarata  Chapman,  who  car 
ried  off  the  class  honors;  William  Deyo  and  Aliss  Nellie  Goincs. 

Charles  H.  Butler,  lately  deceased,  was  another  Afro-American,  of 
whom  his  fellow-men  were  proud.  He  was  in  the  Government 
employ  in  Washington.  At  the  convention  of  the  Catholic  National 
L^nion  in  Albany,  recently,  he  was  a  delegate  from  St.  Augustine's 
church.  Through  his  influence  largely,  Rev.  Father  Uncles,  the 
first  Colored  Catholic  priest  to  be  ordained  in  this  country,  was 
ordained  by  Cardinal  Gibbons. 

A  Baptist  mission  was  recently  started  on  Second  street,  and  is 
now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

This  is  the  Concord  Baptist  church.  Its  able  and  educated  pas 
tor  is  the  young  and  gifted  Rev.  A.  T.  lohnson,  who,  whilst  never 
neglecting  the  Christian  oversight  of  his  flock,  is  aggressive  along 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WJLLIAM     IIKXRY    JOHNSON.  65 

public  lines,  to  the  end  that  society  may  be  bettered  by  his  being 
in  it. 

Miss  Mamie  Dorsey  is  organist.  There  is  also  a  Helping-  Hand 
Society  connected  with  the  church.  Among  the  leading  spirits  are: 
Mrs.  James  A.  May,  Mrs.  A.  P.  Simpson,  Mrs.  M.  Cook  and  Mrs. 
Allen." 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Plato  owns  and  resides  in  a  handsome  residence, 
182  Second  street.  This  lady  is  noted  for  her  excellent  qualities  of 
head  and  heart. 

Mrs.  Adeline  Douge,  of  370  Central  avenue,  has  been  and  is  care 
taker  of  the  D.  &  H.  depot.  This  delightful  business  and  society 
woman  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  her.  She  is  booked 
for  a  good  position  in  the  new  Central  depot. 

Mrs.  George  K.  Smith,  relict  of  that  grand  good  fellow,  who  was 
for  many  years  Mr.  Thomas  C.  Platt's  right  hand  Afro-American, 
and  the  trusty  messenger  of  the  Republican  State  Committee,  is 
strictly  a  business  woman.  She  inherited  the  respect  of  the  Repub 
lican  magnates  and  now  holds  a  profitable  position  in  the  State 
Capitol.  She  resides  on  Eagle  street. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Hoyt  is  another  business  and  society  woman, 
active  and  generous  to  a  fault. 

Madames  Cecilia  R.  Hill,  Maria  Douge,  Mary  Mclntyre  and 
\V.  IT.  Yopp  are  identified  with  the  People's  Line  of  night  boats 
plving  between  here  and  Xew  York. 

Mrs.  [oseph  A.  Smith  owns  and  resides  at  Xo.  410  Madison  ave 
nue.  She  is  the  relict  of  Mr.  Joseph  A.  Smith,  the  author  and 
lecturer,  who  was  so  well  and  widely  known  by  the  society  people. 

Mrs.  William  Fuzmore,  of  Xo.  180  First  street,  has  the  reputa 
tion  of  being  the  absolutely  best  cleaner,  repairer  and  finisher  of 
lace  curtains  in  the  citv. 

There  is  Mr.  James  Savoy,  the  genial  and  ever-present  messenger 
of  St.  Agnes'  school.  Ily  the  way,  that  plant  of  1'ishop  Ooane's  is 
proving  very  helpful  to  our  people.  It  furnishes  employment  to 
a  number  of  good  and  industrious  girls.  The  culinary,  dining-  and 
dormitory  work  is  all  performed  by  such.  Miss  Lavenia  Williams, 
who  has  an  oversight,  is  an  exceptional  bright  young  woman;  her 
associates  are  all  pinks  of  politeness  and  affability.  Among  these 
are  Miss  Mary  Dixon,  Mrs.  Caroline  Gardiner,  Ann  Wilkes,  Ida 
Jones,  Estella  Gorder  and  Miss  Blanche  Jackson. 


66  AI'TOIJKXJK. \IM1Y     OK     DU.     WILLIAM     TTKXRY     (OlIXSoX. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Van  Yranken  and  Ed.  ]'.  Robinson  arc  both  owners 
of  their  respective  homes  on  Second  street  —  one  above,  and  tin- 
other  below,  the  Northern  Boulevard. 

Thomas  Tracy  and  Samuel  H.  Mando  are  both  citizens  of  Albany, 
still  it  is  hard  to  tell  where  Tracy  spends  the  most  of  his  valuable 
time;  he  is  a  valuable  aggregate  to  the  Tammany  Hall  Democratic 
machine.  He  is  considerable  of  an  all-round  politician.  He  knows 
a  hen  from  a  hawk.  Tracy  and  myself,  together  with  his  two  boys. 
Charlie  and  Arthur,  visited  Xew  York  together  last  fall  to  help  wel 
come  Admiral  Dewey.  He  proved  to  be  a  delightful  good  fellow  to 
tramp  with.  S.  H.  Mando  is  unlike  his  brother-in-law;  he  is  an  all- 
round  colored  Democrat,  as  sly  as  a  fox,  holds  a  good  position  in 
the  Xew  York  Custom  House,  a  hold-over  under  Civil  Service  rule. 

Hon.  Charles  \V.  Anderson,  .Republican  State  Committeeman- 
at-Large,  of  Xew  York  citv,  was  here  during  Governor  Morton's 
administration.  He  was  chief  clerk  and  confidential  secretary  to 
State  Treasurer  Colvin.  Mr.  Anderson  made  manv  friends  in 
political  lines.  He  is  an  able,  forcible  and  eloquent  public  speaker, 
and  can  hold  his  own  with  foremost  orators  of  the  day. 

James  Baker,  a  former  Albanian,  now  of  Rensselaer-on-the-Hud- 
son,  has  developed  into  a  real  estate  projector. 

Madame  E.  !>.,  the  delightful  helpmate  of  Past  Grand  Master 
Irving,  of  68  Lafayette  street,  is  a  splendid  housekeeper,  and  is 
about  as  good  as  any  woman  ought  to  be.  She  is  another  society 
leader,  and  is  desirable  and  popular  in  all  classes,  but  more  espe 
cially  with  the  buds. 

Airs.  Sarah  Cslier,  who  resided  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Camp 
bell,  at  Staunton,  \  a.,  owned  and  let  a  fine  residence  on  Ten  liroeck 
place,  which  at  her  death,  which  recently  occurred,  passed  to  her 
daughter. 

Miss  Alice  Levi  and  Miss  Eveline  Williams,  of  YVestbury,  L.  I., 
both  graduated  with  honor  from  the  Xormal  College  in  this  city. 

Mrs.  William  Richarson,  of  12  Monroe  and  Chapel  streets,  has 
a  well-equipped  boarding-house. 

Mrs.  Andrew  Williams,  of  Xo.  2<;  Monroe  street,  also  takes 
boarders. 

The  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Moses  was  organized  in  this  city, 
October  I4th,  1896.  It  is  a  branch  of  the  National  Societv,  which 
has  forty-two  lodges  working  under  the  National  Charter. 


Al'TOJHOCRAl'll  Y    OF     Dk.     WILLIAM     IIHXKY    JollXSOX.  6/ 

Richard  Allen  Johnson,  who  is  connected  with  the  1).  &  H. 
Railroad  system,  resides  on  First  street,  in  his  own  property. 

Airs.  Sarah  Elizabeth  Treadwell  and  her  sister,  Emily  Purvis 
Johnson,  are  doing-  dressmaking-  at  319  Orange  street. 

Among  those  that  deserve  mention  as  being  identified  with 
Albany,  none  are  more  entitled  to  commendation  than  Mr.  William 
Sinclair,  formerly  of  I'uffalo,  X.  V.,  but  now  of  Washington,  1).  C. 
He  will  be  best  remembered  as  the  steward  of  the  Executive  Man 
sion  (hiring-  that  period  when  lion.  Grover  Cleveland  was  Governor. 
When  Mr.  Cleveland  was  inaugurated  President,  he  transferred  Mr. 
Sinclair  to  the  stewardship  of  the  White  House  at  Washington,  and 
lie  has  held  that  position  ever  since.  Mr.  Sinclair  married  Miss 
Abbey,  a  sister  of  the  Van  Yranken  brothers  and  of  Miss  Anna. 

Mr.  James  M.  Johnson,  formerly  a  porter  in  the  paper-hanging 
store  of  Mr.  Mclntee,  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  respected  boot  and 
shoe  dealers,  and  a  member  of  that  branch  of  lioard  of  Trade, 
in  Chicago,  ill. 

Edward  W.  Crosby.  Esq..  has  achieved  success  in  newspaper 
work.  He  now  resides  in  Buffalo,  and  has  been  for  years  and  now 
is  the  telegraphic  editor  of  the  Buffalo  Times. 

Win.  II.  Yopp,  Esq.,  is  engaged  with  the  Pennsylvania  Central 
K.  I\.  Co.;  so.  also,  is  his  son,  Sanford. 

Mr.  George  Webican,  the  Kings  county  young"  Republican  leader, 
got  in  some  line  work  at  the  Philadelphia  convention.  If  he 
proves  as  successful  in  playing  politics  as  he  did  at  love-making  lie 
will  not  disappoint  his  friends. 

Another  former  prominent  and  highly-respected  citizen  was 
Sergeant  T.  W.  Anderson,  late  of  Syracuse,  X.  Y.  He  and  I  were 
boys  together  in  the  citv  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  We  were  associated 
here  in  tin's  citv  afterwards.  I  knew  and  loved  the  man.  lie  was 
everv  inch  a  gentleman.  He  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-sixth  (colored) 
Xew  ^  ork  Regiment,  and  served  through  the  \\  ar  of  the  Rebellion 
with  honor,  and  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  sergeant.  He  is  survived 
by  five  daughters,  Mrs.  Thomas  Clark.  Mrs.  Smith,  Mrs.  Green. 
oi  Syracuse;  Mrs.  I.  foscph,  of  Xew  York  city;  Mrs.  Cannon,  of 
<  )swego,  and  one  son,  who  bears  his  father's  name. 

1  am  not  taking  a  census  of  the  city  or  State.  I  am  simply 
endeavoring  in  this  letter  to  show  what  the  average  Xegro  amounts 
to.  The  woods  and  citv  are  mil  of  flam's  sons.  I  rejoice  to  be 


68  AUTOr.lOGR. \1MLY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

able  to  chronicle  the  fact  that  they  are  thrifty  and  law-abiding,  and 
compare  favorably  to  the  white  nice. 

Let  someone  tell  Charles  E.  Lewis  and  family,  who  reside  on 
North  Lark  street,  that  they  live  in  the  tenderloin  district,  and  that 
somebody  would  get  wallowed  in  the  snow  before  the  coming  of 
springtime. 

Abe  Blackburn,  W.  H.  Keeler's  trusted  Annex  man,  would  not 
drink  another  drop  of  filtered  water  or  treat  a  friend,  if  yon  tell  him 
that  the  cozy  little  cottage  on  North  Dove  street,  which  he  owns 
and  resides  in,  is  in  other  than  the  bine-blood  district. 

1  would  not  myself  dare  to  meander  on  lower  ( )range  street  or 
upper  Congress,  where  resides  on  the  former  John  I7!.  Bruce 
and  his  gifted  helpmate,  and  on  the  latter-named  street  where 
that  interesting  couple,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Taylor  resides,  if  1 
dare  insinuate  that  cither  would  not  be  welcome  on  the  Tine  Hills. 
I  can't  chronicle  names  of  all  the  good  colored  people  that  deserve 
favorable  mention.  I  am  neither  a  talking  nor  a  writing  machine1; 
still,  I  have  wit  and  strength  enough  to  tip  my  hat  to  Don  Kaffell 
Cisenora  and  his  charming  madame. 

The  first  negro  slaves  were  landed  on  Manhattan  Island,  Xew 
York  Colony,  by  Dutch  immigrants  in  the  year  1623,  and  tin- 
practical  abolition  of  the  accursed  institution  in  this  State  was 
accomplished  in  1827;  the  law  for  that  purpose  was  adopted  in  1817. 

I  have  endeavored  to  draw  a  pen  picture  of  the  sufferings  and 
degradation  of  the  Negro  slaves  in  ante-bellum  days.  I  have  also 
noted  the  rise  and  progress  of  my  race  in  this  citv  dating  from 
1827  to  date.  It  ought  to  satisfy  the  most  doubtful  that  the  Negro 
is  not  different  from  other  races.  All  people  of  any  nationality  that 
ever  amounted  to  anything  came  up  through  trials,  tribulations  and 
deprivations.  Slavery,  with  all  its  attending  horror,  lias  been, 
nevertheless,  a  civilizer  of  the  people  of  the  earth. 

Civilization,  education  and  Christianity  of  a  once  enslaved  people 
lifts  them  out  of  the  rut  of  dependence  and  degradation.  As  the 
Rev.  James  M.  Boddy  puts  it :  "  It  is  not  the  racial  characteristics  that 
render  the  American  Negro  inferior,  but  it  is  the  fact  that  he  occupies 
an  inferior  servile  position.''  Now,  I  am  satisfied  that  the  New  York 
Negro  made  considerable  intellectual,  social  and  Christian  progress 
from  1827  down  to  1870,  when  he  was  fully  invested  with  civil,  pub 
lic  and  political  rights.  His  life  and  deportment  since  then  gives 
assurance  of  his  ultimate  acceptance  of  all  the  obligations  imposed 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLfAM    HENRY    JOTIXSON.  69 

upon  citizens  by  the  Federal  Constitution  and  his  ability  and 
determination  to  surmount,  master,  and  solve  the  race  problem  for 
himself. 

\Y.M.  II.    [onxsox, 

For  the  Albany  Capital. 


1523  FIT/ WATER  STREET, 

PHILADELPHIA  I'EXX. 
\\'M.  1 1.  JOHNSON,  Albany,  X.  V.: 

DEAR  BROTHER.—  Our  mother  was  born  on  a  plantation  at  Cedar 
Grove,  near  Alexandria,  on  February  14,  1/88.  She  died  in  this 
city,  lanuarv  6,  1858.  God  bless  you  for  your  grateful  remembrance. 

Your  loving"  sister, 

MARTHA     A.  JAMES. 


/O  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IIKNKY    JOHNSON. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

TIIF  FRI  ITS  OF   Du.  JOHNSON'S   M  ASTHRFTL  LEGISLATION. 

WKDXKSDAY,  June,  1807. 

Mr.  Martin  1.  Townsend  presented  a  petition  from  \\'ni.  II 
Johnson,  chairman  ot  the  State  Central  Committee  ot  Colored  Liti 
zens,  praying"  for  the  eslablishmeiit  of  equal  manhood  suffrage 
\vhich  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  the  right  of  suffrage. 

XlAV    YORK    CoXYKXTlOX    (  R  F  i'(  )  KT  ) ,     1867-68. 

Proceeding's  and   Debate,   Yolunie   i,  page1  </). 


CHAPTER  91. 

An  Act  supplementary  to  and  amendatory  of  chapter  eighty  of  tin- 
laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  entitled  "An   act  to  pro 
vide  for  the  enrollment  of  the  military,  for  the  organization  of  the 
Xational   (luard  of  the  State  of   Xew    York,   and   for  the   public 
defense,"  and  entitled  the  military  code. 
Passed,  March  7.  1872,  three-fifths  being  present. 
The  People  of  the  State  of  Xew  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

SFCTION  i.  Section  one  of  this  act,  entitled  "An  act  to  provide 
for  the  enrollment  of  the  military  for  the  organization  of  the 
Xational  Guard  of  the  State  of  Xew  York  and  for  the  public  defense, 
and  entitled  the  militarv  code,"  passed  March  seventeen,  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy,  is  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  the  word 
"  which"  in  the  first  line  of  the  aforesaid  first  section. 
Sec.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


CIVIL  RIGHTS  FOR  ALT,. 

The  Bill  as  Passed. 
An  Act  to  provide  for  the  protection  of  citizens  in  their  civil  and 

public  rights. 

Passed,  April  o,  1873.  three-fifths  being  present. 
The  People  of  the  State  of  Xew  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assemblv.  do  enact  as  follows: 

SF.CTION    i.      X<>   citizen    of   this   State   shall,   bv    reason    of   race, 


Hi;\.  A.  T.  JOHNSON. 

1'at-tor  of  Concord  IJaptist  Church,  Albany,  N.  Y 


•niH  COT.DI.'KD  MEN'S  NEW  YoKK  STATK  fJONVFA'TION. 

•Id  in  UK-  <)|d  Hamilton  Sti'cci   r.ajitist  church,  almvc  I'carl.  October  1»;-17,  186(j 


KDGAR  V.  DENTSON, 

Senior  Captain,  Tenth  Battalion.  N.  <;.,  S.  X.  Y 


Ilox.  BENJAMIN   13.  UDELL,  Ju. 


OF   DR.   WILLIAM  TIEXRY  jouxsox.          75 

color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude,  be  exeepted  or  excluded 
from  the  full  and  equal  enjoyment  of  any  accommodations,  advan 
tage,  facililv  or  privilege  furnished  by  inn-keepers,  by  common 
carriers,  whether  on  land  or  water,  bv  licensed  owners,  managers 
oi"  lessees  of  theatres,  or  other  places  ot  amusenu'nt,  by  trustees, 
commissioners,  superintendents,  teachers  and  other  officers  ot  com 
mon  schools  and  public  institutions  of  learning1,  and  by  cemetcrv 
associations. 

Sec.  2.  The  violation  of  anv  part  of  the  first  section  of  this  act 
shall  be  deemed  a  misdemeanor,  and  the  partv  or  parties  violating 
the  same  shall,  upon  conviction  thereof,  be  subject  to  a  line  ot  not 
less  than  fifty  dollars,  nor  more  than  live  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.  v  Discrimination  against  any  citizen  on  account  ot  color, 
bv  the  use  of  the  word  "  white."  or  anv  other  term  in  anv  law. 
statute1,  ordinance,  or  regulation  now  existing  in  this  State,  is  herebv 
repealed  and  annulled. 

Sec.  4.     This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


LAWS  OF  XEW  YORK  — BY  AUTHORITY. 

I  Everv  law,  unless  a  different  time  shall  be  described  therein, 
shall  commence  and  take  effect  throughout  the  State,  on  and  not 
before  the  twentieth  dav  after  the  day  of  its  final  passage,  as  certified 
bv  the  Secrctarv  of  State.  Sec.  12,  title  4.  chap.  /,  part  I.  Revised 
Statutes.) 

CHAPTER  119. 

An  Act  to  prevent  discrimination  against  persons  of  color  by  lif: 
insurance  companies. 

Approved  bv  the  Governor  April  i.  iSiji.  Passed,  three-fifths 
being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Xew  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

SKCTJOX  i.  Xo  life  insurance  company  doing  business  within 
this  State  shall  make  any  distinction  or  discrimination  between 
white  persons  and  colored  persons,  wholly  or  partially  of  African 
descent,  as  to  the  premiums  or  rates  charged  for  policies  upon  the 
lives  of  such  persons,  or  in  anv  other  manner  whatever:  nor  shall 
any  such  company  demand  or  require  a  greater  premium  from  such 
colored  persons  than  is  at  that  time  required  by  such  company  irom 
while  persons  of  the  same  age,  sex,  general  condition  of  health  and 
prospect  of  longevity;  nor  shall  any  such  company  make  or  require 


76  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

any  rebate,  diminution  or  discount  upon  the  amount  to  be  paid  on 
such  policy  in  case  of  the  death  of  such  colored  persons  insured,  nor 
insert  in  the  policy  any  condition,  nor  make  any  stipulation  whereby 
such  person  insured  shall  bind  himself,  or  his  heirs,  executors, 
administrators  and  assigns  to  accept  any  sum  less  than  the  full 
value  or  amount  of  such  policy  in  case  of  a  claim  accruing"  thereon 
by  reason  of  the  death  of  such  persons  insured,  other  than  such  as 
are  imposed  upon  white  persons  in  similar  cases;  and  any  such 
stipulation  or  condition  so  made  or  inserted  shall  be  void. 

Sec.  2.  The  violation  of  an}'  part  of  the  first  section  of  this  act 
shall  be  deemed  a  misdemeanor,  and  the  party  or  parties  violating 
the  same  shall,  upon  conviction  thereof,  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  not 
less  than  fifty  dollars,  nor  more  than  five  hundred  dollars. 

Sec.     .     This  act  shall  take  effect  immediatel. 


THE  ALBANY  CAPITOL. 
Win.  H.  Johnson,  Editor. 

ALT,  A  NY,  June  2,  1804. 

\Ye  noted  in  our  last  issue  the  fact  that  a  memorial  from  "  The 
Capitol  "  had  been  presented  by  the  lion.  C.  ]>.  Morton,  praving  for 
the  removal  of  the  word  "  color  "  from  the  organic  laws  of  the  State. 
Below  we  give  the  full  text  of  that  paper: 

To  the  Honorable  the  President  and  flic  Members  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention,  Assembly  Chamber,  State  Capitol,  Albany,  N.   }\: 

GENTLEMEN.— In  the  name  of  justice  and  in  the  interest  of  fair 
dealing,  the  honor  and  integrity  of  this  great  Empire  State,  T  call 
your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  odious  word  "color"  is  found 
in  the  Constitution.  As  that  instrument  stands  to-day,  it  unfairly 
discriminates  against  people  of  "color"  of  this  State;  that  is,  the 
Constitution  provides  that  all  persons  of  "  color  "  not  taxed  shall 
be  exempt  in  the  enumeration.  This  is  wrong,  and  not  in  the 
spirit  and  in  conformity  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
nor  the  broad  and  progressive  age  in  which  we  live.  I,  therefore, 
most  respectfully  pray  your  honorable  body  to  so  amend  the  Con 
stitution  that  the  draft  of  it  that  you  submit  to  the  people  next  fall 
will  not  contain  the  objectionable  features  that  my  people  justly 
complain  of. 

Gentlemen,  I  have  the  honor  to  subscribe  myself  your  most 
obedient  servant, 

WM.  H.  JOHNSOX, 

Editor  of  the  Albany  Cahfol. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DK.    WILLIAM    IIEXRY    JOHXSOX.  77 

ALISAXY,  May  22,  1894. 

The  Constitutional  Convention  reassembled  at  noon  Tuesday,  in 
the  Assembly  Chamber,  ['resident  Choate  appointed  the  standing- 
committees,  numbering  t \\ent\--se\  en  in  all. 

Among  the  very  first  business  transacted  was  the  presentation 
of  a  memorial  from  \Y.  II.  [ohnson,  editor  of  the  Albany  Capitol, 
proposing  that  the  word  "color"  be  stricken  out  of  the  Constitu 
tion.  The  paper  was  presented  bv  Hon  Charles  .!>.  Morton,  of  the 
Third  Senatorial  District  of  Kings  county.  It  was  read,  and 
referred  to  the  committee  on  suffrage. —  [Albany  Capitol,  May 
24,  1894. 

\Ye  are  proud  to  note  that  owing  to  the  efforts  of  the  Capitol,  the 
Revised  Constitution  does  not  contain  the  word  "white"  or 
"  colored."  ll  stands  for  all  citizens. —  [Kd. 


LAWS  (  )!•'  XEW  Y(  )KK  —  ttv  AUTHORITY. 

CHAPTER  492. 

An  Act  to  secure  equal  rights  to  colored  children  in  the  State  of 
Xew  York,  and  to  repeal  section  twenty-eight,  article  eleven,  title 
fifteen  of  chapter  five  hundred  and  fifty-six  of  the  laws  of  eighteen 
hundred  and  ninety-four,  entitled.  "  The  consolidated  school  law." 
hecame  a  law  April  18,  1900,  with  the  approval  of  the  (Governor. 

Passed,  three-fifths  being  present. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Xew  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

SI-X.TIOX  r.  Xo  person  shall  be  refused  admission  into  or  be 
excluded  from  any  public  school  in  the  State  of  Xew  York  on 
account  of  race  or  color. 

Sec.  2.  Section  twentv-eight,  article  eleven,  title  fifteen  of  chap 
ter  five  hundred  and  fifty-six  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
ninety-four,  which  reads  as  follows:  "The  school  authorities  of  anv 
city  or  incorporated  village,  the  schools  of  which  are  or  shall  be 
organized  under  title  eight  of  this  act,  or  under  special  act,  may. 
when  they  shall  deem  it  expedient,  establish  a  separate  school  or 
separate  schools  for  instruction  of  children  and  youth  of  African 
descent,  resident  therein,  and  over  five  and  under  twenty-one  years 
of  age;  and  such  school  or  schools  shall  be  supported  in  the  same 
manner  and  to  the  same  extent  as  the  school  or  schools  supported 
therein  for  white  children,  and  they  shall  be  subject  to  the  same 


78  Al'ToniOORAi1!!  Y    OF     DK.     WILLIAM     JIEXRY    JOIIXSOX. 

rules  and  regulations  and  be  furnished  facilities  for  instruction  equal 
to  those  furnished  to  the  white  schools  therein,"  is  hereby  repealed. 
Sec.  3.      This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the  first  dav  of  September, 
nineteen  hundred. 

State  of  New  York,  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  ss.: 

I  have  compared  the  preceding  with  the  original  law  on  hie  in 
iliis  office,  and  do  hereby  certifv  that  the  same  is  a  correct  transcript 
therefrom  and  of  the  whole  of  said  original  law. 

JOHN"  T.  McDONOUGH, 

Secretary  <>/   Sidle. 


Tn  ]•:  SPECTATOR. 

ALTIAXY-IU'FFALO,    X.    Y.,  .//V/7    J  <J,    Kj(K). 

(The  Hill  Signed.) 
Xo  More  Discrimination  hi  the  Scliools  of  AYri1   York  State. 

TLLKCRAM     FROM     M  R.    \\".     II.     |()IIXS()X     TO    T.    TllOMAS    F<  )  RTl '  X  I-:, 

4  CI-:DAR  STREET,  XEW  YORK  CITY: 

Governor  Roosevelt  has  signed  Senator  Klsberg's  Anti-Discrimi 
nating  School  bill.  It  i.s  Xo.  402  of  the  Laws  of  KJOO.  See  the 
Spectator  to-morrow.  I  wrote  this  with  the  pen  the  Governor  used. 

WILLIAM  II.  J(  )H.\S(  )X. 
April    K)th, 


LETTER  KROM  \\'.\i.  II.  Joiixsox,  THE  SAGE  OF  MAIDI-:X  LAXE. 
Mr.  Editor: 

I)L\R  Sii\. —  ^  on  ask  me  if  I  know  \vho  the  author  was  of  the 
Klsberg  Anti-Discriminating  School  bill.  In  answering  von  I  have 
1o  say  that  I  regard  it  as  inessential  as  to  who  drafted  the  bill,  but, 
from  what  I  do  know  of  the  affair,  I  believe  that  Major  Poole,  of 
Xew  York  city,  is  entitled  to  much  credit,  lie  fathered  the  bill  and 
looked  after  it  during  its  conduct  through  the  Legislature.  He 
deserves  much  credit  for  his  zeal  in  the  matter.  Still,  his  open  and 
defiant  declaration  frequently  made  that  lie  wotdd  rather  see  the 
bill  defeated  than  to  ask  any  Democrat  to  vote  for  it  was,  in  m\ 
humble  judgment,  unwise,  unjustifiable  and  offensive  partisanship. 
Polities  ought  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  question  of  equal 
rights  involved  in  the  movement.  The  fact  that  only  five  Demo- 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     <>!'     DK.     WILLIAM     IIKXRY    JOHXSOX.  79 

crats  in  the  entire  Legislature  voted  against  the  bill  justifies  my 
position.  \\'e  here  in  Albany  were  on  the  bridge,  so  to  speak,  with 
Senator  Elsberg,  and  that,  too.  regardless  of  party  affiliations,  and 
to  use  the  language  of  Rear-Admiral  Schley:  "There  is  glory 
enough  in  the  vietorv  achieved  in  the  passage  of  the  bill  to  go 
around." 

The  Elsberg  bill  is  substantially  law,  and  1  desire  to  record  the 
fact,  and  one  very  gratifying  to  me,  and  it  is  that  during  the  pending 
of  the  measure  in  the  Legislature  there  was  no  holding  back  nor 
skulking  on  the  part  of  the  colored  contingent  in  and  around  the 
Capitol.  Every  colored  man  possessing  any  influence  whatever, 
from  head-janitor  down  to  and  including  the  unassuming  porter, 
was  unsparing  in  aggressive  support  of  the  measure. 

The  praseworthy  activity  of  this  colored  official  contingent  ren 
ders  conspicuous  the  indifference  of  the  colored  leaders  of  Xew 
York  city  who.  now  that  the  battle  is  won,  will  essay  to  monopolize 
the  credit  for  the  accomplishment  of  a  scheme  in  which  they  were 
only  interested  at  long  and  at  a  cheap  range.  Their  desertion  of 
the  bill,  and  the  noble  effort  to  pass  it  was.  from  my  view  point, 
shameful  in  the  extreme. 

Do  these  Xew  York  city  leaders  expect  that  measures  of  the 
great  importance  that  was  involved  in  the  bill  could  go  through  the 
Legislature  on  the  last  days  of  the  session,  and  that,  too,  when  the 
wording  of  the  bill  was  such  as  to  cast  the  responsibility  for  the 
original  passage  of  the  obnoxious,  discriminating  school  law  upon 
the  Republican  party,  which  was  in  power  in  both  branches  of  the 
Legislature  in  the  year  180,4?  That  the  bill  was  in  danger  of  defeat 
down  to  the  date  of  its  final  passage,  just  two  days  before  the 
adjournment,  was  evident  to  all.  Mr.  John  E.  liruce.  of  the 
Colored  American,  who  was  in  and  out  of  the  Capitol  dailv,  and 
in  the  position  to  know,  expressed  to  me  in  a  written  communica 
tion  dated  March  twentieth,  serious  doubts  of  the  probability  of 
its  passage  in  its  then  shape.  And  the  (Governor,  who  was  evidently 
deeply  interested  in  the  matter,  was  reported  by  the  Xew  York 
Age  as  having  sent  in  an  emergency  message  to  the  Legislature, 
urging  its  immediate  passage.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  tin 
bill  passed  the  Senate  bv  38  to  5  votes,  and  the  Assemblv  without 
a  division. 

Too  much  credit  cannot  be  given  Senator  Elsberg,  who  intro 
duced  the  bill  and  stood  by  it  to  the  last;  nor  should  Assemblyman 
Davis,  of  the  Twenty-seventh  District  of  Xew  York,  be  forgotten. 
He  handled  the  bill  with  consummate  skill  in  the  Assemblv.  The 


80  Al'ToniOOk.U'HY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     JIK.VUY    JOHNSON. 

splendid  action   of   Governor   Roosevelt   in   the   matter,   from   start 
to  finish,  was  of  a  character  to  challenge  the  approbation  and  sin 
cere  thanks  of  every  lover  of  equal  rights  and  of  every   Xegro  — 
man,  woman  or  child  —  in  this  great  Empire  State. 

WM.  H.  J(  HIXSOX, 

20  Maiden  Lane. 
Albany.  April  <) 


When  the  insurance  bill  of  this  year  \vas  under  consideration 
before  the  Senate  Committee,  February  sixth.  Dr.  Johnson  pre 
sented  his  able  argument;  after  elaborating  his  strong  and 
unanswerable  legal  and  just  points,  he  concluded  as  follows: 

Gentlemen,  in  conclusion,  I  beg  that  you  will  permit  me  to  read 
a  few  of  the  scores  of  letters  from  prominent  gentlemen  addressed 
to  you  through  me,  indorsing  this  measure,  asking  for  a  favorable 
report  of  the  bill  by  you.  its  passage  by  the  Legislature  and  its 
approval  by  the  executive.  They  are  as  follows: 

T.  Thomas  Fortune,  Editor  of  the  New  York  Age. —  As  presi 
dent  of  the  Afro-American  League  of  Xew  York  State,  I  am  very 
sure  I  voice  the  sentiment  of  the  members  of  the  League  when  I 
express  the  hope  that  the  pending  insurance  measure  for  protec 
tion  to  Afro-Americans  of  Xew  York  State  from  discriminations, 
will  be  passed  by  the  Legislature  and  become  a  la\v  by  the  concur 
rence  of  the  Governor. 

Charles  P.  Lee,  of  Rochester. —  I  heartily  applaud  and  approve 
of  your  course  in  thus  again  taking  the  stand  in  defense  of  our 
common  rights  and  justice,  wishing  you  cvcrv  success.  Willing 
to  add  the  feebleness  of  my  effort  T  cheerfully  grant  the  use  of  my 
name  to  whatever  worth}-  end  you  inav  see  fit  to  employ  it  in 
furtherance  of  this  movement. 

From  \\  .  F.  Johnson,  of  Brooklyn. —  I  se  my  name  in  favor  of 
the  passage  of  the  bill.  If  I  had  1,000  names  I  would  be  just  as 
willing  to  put  them  to  such  use. 

Chas.  Haley,  of  Hath. —  (  )f  course,  use  mv  name  in  anv  wnv  it 
may  advance  the  interest  of  our  race. 

A.  M.  Thomas,  Jr.,  of  Buffalo. —  I'semv  name  in  favor  of  the  anti- 
discriminating  bill. 

Ft  is  but  an  act  of  simple  justice,  as  well  as  of  sound  business 
principle,  and  would  be  another  progressive  step  of  enlightened 


Al'TomOGRAPIlY     OF    J)K.     WILLIAM     IIKXRY    JOHXSOX.  8l 

legislation,  showing"  that  common  sense  was  battling  down  ancient 
prejudices. 

John  T.  McDonough,  of  Albany. —  The  general  features  of  Senate 
bill  Xo.  103,  to  prevent  discrimination  against  persons  of  color  by 
life  insurance  companies  ought  not  to  be  objectionable  to  any  fair- 
minded  man.  These  life  insurance  companies  are  public  corpora 
tions,  and  the  State  has  a  reserved  right  to  prevent  them  from 
making  distinctions  in  their  business  transactions  on  account  of 
color.  Equal  and  exact  justice  is  what  is  required  and  what  your 
people  and  every  other  people  ought  to  demand  and  receive. 

Rev.  Dr.  \V.  \Y.  Battershall,  of  Albany. —  1  heartily  indorse  the 
provisions  of  Senate  bill  103,  as  tending  to  rectifv  a  wrong  and 
unjust  discrimination  against  our  colored  fellow-citizens. 

TKOV,  J'chrnary  6,  iKoj. 
WILLIAM   11.  Joiixsox,  Eso.: 

DKAR  SJR. —  You  do  me  the  honor  of  sending  me  a  copy  of  a  bill 
now  pending  in  the  Legislature,  and  intended  to  protect  colored 
citizens  against  discrimination  bv  life  insurance  agencies,  especially 
the  industrial  ones. 

In  answer  to  your  kind  letter  i  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  I  am 
greatly  in  favor  of  life  insurance  companies,  and  especially  those 
industrial  ones  who  are  a  great  relief  in  case  of  death  in  poor 
families,  but  against  the  matter  of  discrimination  on  account  of  color 
or  race.  1  would  say  that  this  is  a  great  wrong,  an  injustice  which 
should  not  be  tolerated.  I  am  in  favor  of  every  undertaking  that 
helps  the  poor,  and  because  some  may  be  colored,  I  pity  them  all 
the  more  for  that.  T  hope,  therefore,  that  this  bill  will  pass  and 
become  a  law.  I  am  proud,  dear  sir,  to  find  in  you  a  friend  and 
defender  of  your  people.  That  you  and  thev  are  colored  is  no  crime, 
but  an  accident  and  a  misfortune,  on  account  of  which  you  are  all 
the  more  to  be  pitied  and  protected.  I  know  colored  people  well, 
having  lived  many  years  among  them  in  the  South.  They  generallv 
are  an  innocent  race  and  1  thank  Clod  that  they  are  free  here,  and  I 
hope  that  the  time  may  come  when  they  will  be  free  evervwhere. 

Thanking  you,  dear  sir,  for  calling  on  me  by  letter.  I  hope  that 
your  advocacy  of  this  humane  and  Christian  law  will  be  successful. 
It  should  pass  by  unanimous  consent. 

Most  respectfully,  your  humble  servant  in  Christ. 
PETER   HAVERMANS, 

}\istor  St.  Mary's  CJnircJi. 
6 


cS2  ArTOl'.lOCRAIMI  Y     OK     DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON. 

ALP, ANN",  I<chnuir\  3,    1891. 

MY  DEAR  MR.  IOHNSON.- —  I  have  no  time  to  look  into  the  merits 
of  the  bill,  a  copy  of  which  you  inclose  me,  and,  of  course,  I  know 
nothing  about  it  except  what  you  say,  but  1  am  so  absolutely 
opposed  to  any  discrimination  against  my  colored  brethren,  in  any 
way  whatever,  that  1  indorse  on  the  back  of  the  bill,  which  1  return 
to  you,  a  general  statement  to  that  effect. 
Very  sincerely  your  friend, 

WILLIAM  CROSWELL  DOAXE, 

Bisliof  of  Albany. 

Judge  A.  S.  Draper,  of  Albany. —  I  have  yours  of  the  3ist  inst.. 
and  in  reply  thereto,  advise  you  that  1  can  see  no  objection  to  the 
bill  a  copy  of  which  you  inclose.  It  seems  to  me.  that  it  ought  to 
be  supported  bv  everybody.  Indeed,  it  seems  to  me  strange  that 
there  can  be  necessity  for  such  a  measure. 

F.  A.  Chew,  of  Troy.-- Yours  of  the  twenty-third  nit.,  with  insur 
ance  bill  inclosed,  came  duly  to  hand.  In  replv,  would  sav  that  1 
have  read  the  bill  carefully,  and  deem  it  a  wise  measure. 

[os.  W.  Price,  of  Albany. —  1  believe  that  1  speak  the  sentiment  of 
every  colored  man,  woman  and  child,  not  onlv  here  but  in  the  State, 
when  I  pronounce  in  favor  of  the  suppression  of  this  great  wrong- 
perpetrated  against  a  weak  and  unsuspecting  people  by  discrimina 
ting  life  insurance  companies. 

Chas.  H.  liutler,  of  Washington,  I).  C. —  As  an  old  Albanian,  I 
want  to  go  on  record  in  favor  of  the  speedy  passage  of  the  Chase- 
Ward  bill,  a  copy  of  which  you  sent  me. 

Thornton  K.  Pellom,  of  Xewburgh. —  1  authorize  you  to  use  my 
name  in  favor  of  the  Chase-Ward  bill,  I  give  it  my  most  hearty 
approval. 

John  L.  Henry,  of  Whitehall. —  Use  me  in  the  interest  of  the  bill. 
Hoping  that  it  will  pass  and  our  race  furthered  on  a  step  in  the 
right. 

Tom.  JJ.  Clark.  Svracuse. —  L'sc  mv  name  by  all  means,  and 
may  God  help  you  to  succeed. 

George  A.  Johnson,  of  Ithaca. —  T  heartily  commend  your  effort 
to  secure  the  passage  of  the  bill  to  prevent  insurance  companies  dis 
criminating  against  our  people.  If  you  need  them,  all  our  people 
here  will  sign,  also. 


AUTOJJJOCRArilY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    1IEXRY    JOHNSON.  83 

Fthelbert  Evans,  of  Troy.- — -Our  league,  last  night,  unanimously 
indorsed  your  effort  to  have  the  Insurance  bill  passed. 

Pierre  Barguet,  of  New  York. —  I'se  my  name.  I  am  decidedly 
for  the  bill. 

F.  A.  White,  of  Brockport.— Please  add  my  name  to  your  peti 
tion  for  equal  rights. 

A.  Bolin,  of  Poughkeepsie. —  You  may  use  my  name;  also  the 
name?1  of  my  sons  in  favor  of  the  measure. 

Chas.  H.  Lansing,  Jr.,  of  Brooklyn. —  As  a  protest  against  such 
discriminations,  I  will  cheerfully  allow  the  use  of  my  name  to  a 
petition  for  such  purpose. 

Judge  Francis  H.  Woods,  of  Albany. — •  1  take  pleasure  in 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the  3ist  instant,  inclosing 
Senate  bill  Xo.  103,  and  of  stating  that  I  am  heartily  in  favor  of  its 
passage  by  the  Legislature  to  the  end  of  preventing  discrimination. 

MR.  \VILLL\M  H.  Joiixsox: 

I)I-:AR  SIR.- — Your  letter  of  the  3ist  instant,  inclosing  Senate  bill 

Xo.  103,  introduced  by  the  lion.  Senator  Chase,  has  been  received. 

I  am  unreservedly  in  favor  of  the  provisions  contained  in  this  bill. 

They  are  eminently  just  and  proper,  and  it  is  my  earnest  hope  and 

pravcr  that  the  relief  asked  for  by  our  colored  brethren,  at  the  hands 

of  the  people  of  this  State,  through  their  representatives  in  Senate 

and  Assembh,  may  be  speedily  presented  and  that  the  bill  may  not 

fail  to  become  a  law. 

Respectfully, 

FRANCIS   McN  1 FR X FY, 

/->/.s7/()/>  of  sllbany. 

(JKNTLKMEX. —  This  is  HIV  case.  1  submit  it  to  you  in  the  name 
of  my  people,  and  on  behalf  of  ihe  honor  and  credit  of  this  free  State. 

1  am  not  personally  interested  in  either  of  the  discriminating 
companies,  i  hold  no  policies  in  either.  It  is  the  principle  affect 
ing  the  matter  that  influences  my  action  in  the  premises. 

Loyalty  to  my  State  and.  country,  my  love  of  and  pride  in  my  race, 
together  with  my  trust  in  Clod  impel  me  to  this  action.  We  do  not 
ask  von  to  legislate  on  social  or  religious  questions,  we  leave  such 
to  be  dealt  with  by  individuals;  we  do  not  desire  to  be  longer 
regarded  as  wards  of  the  State  or  nation,  but  as  men  and  fellow- 
citizens,  accepting  all  responsibilities  incumbent  upon  such.  T  have 
faith  in  the  American  people.  1  look  forward  to  the  complete 


84  AI'TOMIOCRAIMIY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

triumph  of  the  principles  of  justice  and  their  being  accorded  un 
people  not  only  here  hut  in  the  South;  all  signs  point  in  that 
direction. 

I  thank  God  that  I  am  permitted  to  live  just  now  in  this  enlight 
ened  and  progressive  age,  to  be  privileged  to  look  on  and  contem 
plate  the  complete  in  vesture  of  my  people  with  the  equable  badge 
_of  universal  brotherhood  under  the  wise  and  just  laws  of  the  State 
and  nation. 

WAT.  IT.  JOHNSON. 

(Albany  Capitol,  May   r,    1891.) 


DR.  \\'M.  II.  JonNsox,  OF  ALBANY,  WILL  DEEIYER  His  LEC'IVKF, 
LNTITEED  LINCOLN,  REP.ELEIOX,  SLAVERY  AND    FREEDOM. 

Press  Comments. 

Dr.  Johson's  lecture  is  an  original  historical  product,  devoted 
mainly  to  that  part  of  the  illustrious  statesman's  official  life  which 
bears  more  especially  on  the  slavery  question,  and  is  a  correct 
resume  of  those  historical  events. —  [The  Times-l/nion,  Albanv. 
N.  Y.,  June  13,  1895. 

Dr.  Johnson  criticizes  and  praises  Air.  Lincoln.  He  holds  that  the 
country  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  negro.  He  tells  what  the 
race  did  toward  suppressing  the  rebellion,  and  \vhv  Mr.  Lincoln 
finally  emancipated  the  slaves. —  [Albany  Argus,  June  12,  1895. 

\Ym.  H.  Johnson,  Esq.,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  recentlv  read  a  paper 
before  his  neighbors  on  Abraham  Lincoln  and  the  slavery  question, 
the  closing  sentence  of  which  is  rather  sound,  don't  you  think  so? 
"  I  want  you,  my  countrymen,  to  survive,  to  outlive  the  odious  color 
line  in  politics  and  in  everything.  I  want  myself  to  forget  —  and 
would,  if  I  could — -that  slavery  ever  existed  in  this  beautiful  land. 
I  would,  if  it  were  possible,  blot  from  the  pages  of  American 
history  that  period  dating  from  1861  to  1865,  inclusive,  and  only 
remember  that  we  arc  a  nation  of  free  American  citizens,  one  and 
inseparable,  now  and  forever."--  [The  Freeman,  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
June  22,  1895. 

Dr.  Johnson's  lecture  on  "  Lincoln  "  is  a  masterpiece.  It  is  a 
just  tribute  to  the  martyr  President  and  the  valor  of  1/8,875  black 
soldiers,  who  were  on  the  'battlefields  of  the  rebellion  for  God, 
country  and  liberty. —  [Albany  Calcium  Light. 

Dr.  William  H.  Johnson  delivered  a  lecture  in  the  Hamilton 
Street  A.  M.  E.  church  last  evening,  presenting  Abraham  Lincoln 


ArTOBIOGRAPIIY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    IIKXRY    JOHNSON.  85 

and  his  relation  to  the  negro  in  a  light  in  which  the  ordinary  citi 
zen  has  not  been  accustomed  to  viewing  him.  President  Lincoln, 
according  to  the  lecturer,  while  demonstrating  himself  a  statesman 
second  to  no  other  man,  dead  or  alive,  and  commanding  admiration 
from  friends  and  foes,  did  absolutely  nothing  for  the  negro  as  such, 
Lincoln,  the  lecturer  maintained,  was  too  great  to  draw  the  color 
line.  He  did  everything  for  the  negro,  in  that  he  made  it  possible 
for  the  negro  to  participate  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  and 
restoration  of  the  Union  by  mingling  his  blood  upon  the  same  fields 
with  his  white  comrades. 

"  i  address  myself,"  said  Dr.  Johnson,  "  to  the  younger  genera 
tion,  especially  to  the  young  men  of  my  race.  1  tell  you  that  you 
are  free  American  citizens  without  any  mortgage  resting  against 
von.  The  country  owes  you  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  two  things: 
First,  for  the  patient  sufferings  of  your  ancestors  during  the  250 
vears  or  more  of  enforced  bondage  at  the  South  for  which  the 
general  government  was  responsible.  Then  for  the  bravery  and 
heroism  displayed  by  1/8,975  negro  soldiers,  your  ancestors,  that 
turned  the  tide  in  favor  of  the  Union  cause. 

"  Lincoln,"  he  said,  "  desired  only  that  the  South  should  cease 
hostilities  and  return  to  the  Union,  with  its  slaves.  He  wrote  in 
answer  to  Horace  Greeley's  appeal,  that  if  he  could,  as  President, 
restore  the  Union  without  freeing  a  single  slave,  he  would  do  so. 
The  emancipation  proclamation  was  issued,"  he  said,  "  because  it 
became  a  necessity  in  the  affecting  of  the  restoration  of  the  Union. 

"  Mr.  Lincoln  saw  the  rebellion  could  not  be  crushed  without 
the  aid  of  the  negroes  as  armed  allies,  so  he  said  so,  and  made  the 
declaration  over  his  own  official  signature  without  reservation." 

The  lecturer  closed  with  an  appeal  to  his  fellow-countrymen  to 
survive  and  to  outlive  the  odious  color  line  in  politics  and  every 
where  else. —  [Albany  Journal,  June  12,  1895. 

Calcium  Light. 

ALIJAXY,  April  2,  1892. 

The  dinner  given  by  the  John  Peterson's  Association  on  St.  Pat 
rick's  Day  eclipsed  all  previous  events  of  the  kind.  The  table, 
which  was  spread  in  the  banquet  hall,  was  in  the  form  of  a  "  T." 
At  the  head  was  seated  in  a  group  around  the  headline  of  the 
"  T  "  those  who  were  to  do  the  speech-making.  They  were  George 
\Y.  Myers,  president  of  the  association;  the  Hon.  F.  Douglass, 
Rev.  Dr.  II.  A.  Munroe,  Dr.  John  W.  A.  Thompson,  T.  Thomas 
Fortune,  of  the  Age,  the  aggressive  Afro-American  Republican  edi- 


86          ArTonmr.RAPiiY  OF   DR.   WILLIAM   IIKXRY  JOHNSON. 

lor;  C.  \\  .  Anderson,  Esq.,  the  silver-tongued  orator,  of  New  York 
city;  R.  .11.  Smith,  President  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  Xe\v 
York;  I.  II.  (.).  Austin,  C.  11.  Lansing',  |r.,  of  Urooklyn,  who  looks, 
dresses  and  talks  so  much  like  and  is  so  apt  in  his  after-dinner 
speeches  as  Dr.  Chauncey  Depew  that  he  has  deservingly  gained 
the  title  of  being  the  Afro-American  Chauncey  Depew;  Charles  M. 
Herrian  and  Win.  II.  Johnson,  of  Albany. 

W.  E.  Gross,  the  ex-president,  sat  at  the  toot  ot  the  table  and 
delivered  the  address  of  welcome. 

[/'///.  //.  Johnson's  \/v<v/?. 

MR.  CHAIRMAN. —  This  being  the  anniversary  of  Ireland's  patron 
saint,  also  your  illustrious  preceptor,  I  may  be  permitted  possibly, 
in  lieu  of  an  after-dinner  speech,  a  thing  I  am  unused  to,  to  draw 
a  lesson  from  the  lives  of  these  two  deserved  saints.  * 

Patricius,  according  to  tradition,  was  born  of  free  and  noble 
patronage  at  a  place  called  "  Kilpatrick  "  in  Scotland,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  411.  lie  lived  to  reach  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-i  \v<> 
years.  During  the  wars  between  the  Picts  and  the  Romans,  whose 
conquests  over  England  were  at  that  time  complete,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  was  captured  by  the  Picts,  carried  a  bondman  to  Ireland, 
and  remained  there  in  abject  slaver v  for  six  years,  lie  had,  by 
nature,  a  brave,  generous  and  lovable  disposition  and  soon  became 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  religion,  having  received  at  home  and 
when  a  mere  lad  the  rudimental  and  fundamental  instructions  in 
the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  church.  Although  he  was  a  youth. 
a  Roman  in  a  strange  land  among  strangers,  he  consecrated  his 
thoughts  to  Christ  and  offered  his  prayers  for  freedom  that  he  might 
devote  the  balance  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  the  church  and  the 
elevation  of  the  Irish  people,  whom  he  had  learned  to  love.  His 
prayers  were  answered. 

Freedom  came  to  him  in  some  mysterious  manner,  aided,  as  he 
always  believed,  by  Divine  Providence.  His  escape  was  effected  to 
the  continent.  There  he  entered  a  monastery,  was  educated  and 
ordained  a  priest,  returned  to  Ireland,  consecrated  his  life  to  God's 
service  and  became  Ireland's  patron  saint  and  has  ever  since  been 
known  as  St.  Patrick. 

To-day  the  anniversary  of  St.  Patrick  is  observed  all  over  the 
civilized  world  where  the  Christian  religion  has  a  foothold. 

It  is  a  happy  coincidence  that  the  anniversary  of  Ireland's  patron 
saint  and  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  the  distinguished  scholar, 
Rev.  lohn  Peterson,  should  fall  on  the  same  dav.  St.  Patrick'  was 


REPRESEXTATIVE;NEWSPAPEJR  MEN, 

Albjinv.  N.  Y, 


HON.  WILLIAM  H.  KEELEK. 


RICHARD  KELLKY, 

Of  Troy,  N.  Y.      Born  in  Brunswick   County,  Va. 
An  aggressive  Republican  of  Hensi<claer  County,  and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War. 


A  PENNY  SHORT. 


HUN.  LYMAN  H.  BEVANS, 

Recorder. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  QI 

born  in  freedom,  reduced  to  slavery,  transported  to  a  foreign  land, 
adopted  it  as  his  home,  became  the  Christian  leader  of  its  people, 
the  stimulator  of  their  best  thoughts  and  founded  the  basis  of  their 
unwavering  faith  in  ( Jod. 

Rev.  John  Peterson  was  horn  a  freeman,  an  offspring  of  noble 
ancestry,  who,  like  St.  Patrick,  was  stolen  and  transported  to  a  for 
eign  shore.  Your  dead,  revered  preceptor  was  to  you  a  patron  saint 
in  scholarship,  in  moral  and  intellectual  training.  You  do  well  in 
Leather  around  this  festive  board  on  this  historical  dav  to  do  honor 

o 

to  the  memory  of  those  two  distinguished  Christians  and  scholars. 

For,  it  seems  to  me,  that  whilst  honoring  the  one  directly  you 
but  honor  the  other  bv  implication;  the  one  an  adopted  Irishman, 
a  preserver,  defender  and  teacher  of  the  Christian  religion;  the 
other  a  native  American,  the  descendant  of  an  illustrious  ancestry 
of  sunny  Africa.  lie  was  vour  preceptor  and  intellectual  father. 
Your  love  and  reverence  for  the-  Rev.  John  Peterson  entitles  you 
to  the  highest  commendation.  I  know  personally  little  of  him. 
1  never  saw  him,  but  once,  then  his  presence  filled  me  with  admira 
tion  and  profound  respect.  1  was  sensible  of  the  fact  that  I  stood 
in  the  presence  of  one  of  ( lod's  noble  works. 

The  lesson  to  be  drawn  from  a  comparison  or  by  association  of 
the  names  of  these  two  illustrious  sons  of  men  is  that  the  one,  an 
adopted  Irishman,  once  a  slave,  became  Ireland's  patron  saint  and 
was  one  of.  if  not,  the  most  distinguished  Christian  law-givers  of  the 
fourth  century. 

The  other,  an  Afro-American,  a  member  of  a  once  proscribed 
race,  became  distinguished  because  of  his  great  learning  and  pro 
found  piety.  It  matters  little  where,  when  or  how  a  man  is  born, 
his  life  and  his  death  makes  the  indelible  record,  having  been  written 
on  daily  tablets,  upon  which  his  memory  is  condemned  or  extolled. 

Involuntary  thraldom  entails  no  stigma  or  disgrace  upon  the 
nobility  of  free-minded  human  being.  "  Cod  moves  in  mysterious 
wavs.  His  wonders  to  perform.''  Cod  bless  St.  Patrick's  devotees. 
Cod  bless  John  Peterson's  pupils.  God  bless  you  all. 


Jo  FIX  BROWN'S  BIRTHDAY. 

CfcLlilJRATF.D     15V     CoLORET)     ClTIZENS     IN     CoNNKCTFON     \YlTH     THE 

SIGNING  OF  THE  ELSBERG  BILL. 

Iii  accordance  with  the  call  of  Bishop  Alexander  \Yalters,  of  the 
Xational  Afro- American  Council,  the  colored  citizens  of  Albany 
gathered  at  the  Hamilton  Street  A.  M.  E.  church  last  night  to 


()2  AL'TOmOGKAPJJY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     IIE^RY    JOTfXSOX. 

celebrate  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John  Drown 
and  to  express  their  approval  of  the  passage  of  the  Elsberg  School 
Hill,  which  makes  discrimination  against  colored  children  impos 
sible.  The  meeting  was  well  attended  and  the  enthusiasm  was 
unbounded. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  William  11.  Johnson,  who, 
in  a  few  well-chosen  words,  explained  its  purpose,  lie  said:  "  [olin 
Brown  was  not  a  fanatic  as  many  would  have  us  think,  lie  was  for 
humanity  and  did  more  for  the  colored  race  than  any  other  man." 
After  inviting  to  the  platform  Sergeant  Garrv  Jefferson,  of  the 
Thirty-first  Colored  Regiment;  Sergeant  Albert  Ouallis,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  New  York  Volunteers:  John  E.  Mruce, 
Richard  Kelly,  of  Troy,  and  the  Rev.  C.  M.  Gibbons,  he  read  letters 
of  regret  from  Governor  Roosevelt,  flavor  Blessing,  Speaker 
Xixon,  Congressman  Glynn,  E.  E.  Cooper,  editor  of  the  "  Colored 
American;"  William  Barnes,  Jr.,  Jacob  A.  Cantor,  Bishop  Alex 
ander  Walters,  Senator  Horace  White,  'Hooker  T.  Washington. 
J.  C.  White,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  District  Attorney  Dyer. 

Recorder  L}  man  H.  Bevans  was  then  introduced  as  permanent 
chairman,  and  the  program  opened  with  an  address,  "The  Growth 
of  Public  Conscience,"  by  the  Rev.  James  M.  Boddy,  A.  M.,  of  Troy, 
an  eloquent  young  minister.  He  was  followed  b\  John  A. 
Howe,  Jr.,  who  recited  Ingersoll's  "  Address  to  the  Survivors  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac."  Leo  H.  Graham  recited,  and  Mrs.  L.  J. 
Mann  sang  a  solo,  after  which  the  choir  and  audience  sang  "John 
Brown's  Body  Lies  a  Mouldering  in  the  Grave." 

Addresses  were  made  by  a  number  of  prominent  men  present, 
among  whom  was  John  T.  McDonough,  Secretary  of  State. 

Airs.  Elizabeth  Cisco,  of  Long  Island,  to  whom  is  due  great 
credit  for  her  work  on  the  Elsberg  Bill,  was  introduced. 
Mrs.  Cisco  received  an  ovation  and  at  the  invitation  of  Mr.  Johnson 
held  a  reception. 

Resolutions  read  by  J.  T.  Chapman  were  adopted  thanking  and 
commending  "  Senator  X.  A.  Elsberg,  who,  regardless  of  deter 
mined  opposition  and  unfair  criticism,  stood  by  it  until  his  efforts 
were  crowned  with  success."  Governor  Roosevelt,  to  whom  all 
honor  is  due.  "  A  man  worthy  of  the  highest  commendation,  a 
good  citizen,  soldier,  statesman,  one  whose  grand  achievements  on 
the  field  of  battle  and  in  diplomacy,  whose  fairness,  justness  and 
fearlessness  as  an  executive,  place  us  under  an  imperishable  obliga 
tion."  Thanks  were  extended  to  the  legislators  who  supported  the 
bill,  and  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cisco.  The  resolution  savs:  "To  no 


Al'ToliroCR. \IMIY    OF     DR.    WILLIAM    HEXRY    JOHNSON*.  93 

one  person,  living"  or  dead,  is  the  State  of  \ew  York  under  greater 
obligations  for  the  complete  obliteration  of  raeial  discrimination 
than  to  this  splendid  representative." 


THURSDAY,  May   10,   1900. 

Secretary  of  State  John  T.  McDonough  was  one  of  the  orators 
at  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of 
John  Brown  at  the  Hamilton  Street  A.  M.  E.  church,  Wednesday 
night,  and  after  cracking  a  number  of  good  jokes  at  the  expense 
of  Dr.  William  II.  Johnson,  he  began  to  speak  of  the  passage  of  the 
Elsbcrg  School  Bill.  Air.  McDonough  said  that  Dr.  Johnson  and 
others  were  deserving  of  great  praise,  but  that  the  people  had  for 
gotten  "  that  little  woman,  Miss  Elizabeth  Cisco,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I., 
to  whom  the  most  credit  is  due." 

Just  as  he  was  about  to  take  up  another  topic  Dr.  Johnson  asked 
Miss  Cisco  to  stand  up. 

Miss  Cisco,  who  weighs  in  the  vicinitv  of  200  pounds,  and  who 
is  well  proportioned,  stood  up  and,  with  a  smile,  looked  at  Mr. 
McDonough,  who  was  completely  staggered. 

The  audience  got  on  in  a  moment  and  v  burst  into  a  roar  of 
lauerhter. 


ALBANY,  X.  Y.,  March  8. 

DKAR  MR.  JOHNSON. —  I  have  read  with  much  interest  and  pleas 
ure  the  article  in  the  Calcium  Eight  and  your  speech  on  Frederick 
Douglass,  the  latter  published  in  the  Evening  Post  under  date 
March  sixth.  I  return  the  two  copies  and  thank  you  for  the  pleas 
ure  given  me. 

Sincerelv  yours, 

|(  )I1\  G.  MYERS. 


ALP.ANY,  March   n,  1895. 

MY  DF.AR  JOHNSON. —  I  have  just  received  and  read  in  the 
Albany  Evening  Post,  which  you  sent  me,  your  address  on  the 
occasion  of  the  Douglass  Memorial,  and  I  thank  you.  J  think  you 
paid  an  appreciative  and  just  tribute  to  a  very  remarkable  man  - 
remarkable  in  so  many  respects  and  not  the  least  in  that  he  had 
such  a  kind  of  common  sense  that  he  didn't  lose  his  head  under  an 


94  AUTOP.KHiR. \IMIY    ()!•-     DR.     WILLIAM     IIH.VRY    JOHNSON'. 

almost  unparalleled  flattery  early,  and  especially  in  Europe,  lie 
knew  his  work  and  never  lost  sight  of  it.  1  lonored  be  his  name  and 
memory.  Way  back  in  the  40'$  and  early  5o's,  living  next  door  to 
Mrs.  E.  C.  Stanton,  I  first  saw  and  met  Air.  Douglass  there. 
Hastily, 

Yours  truly, 

FRANK  CHAMBERLAIN. 


ALHANY,  X.  Y.,  September  2,   1884. 
WILLIAM  H.  Jonxsox,  Eso.: 

DEAR  SIR. —  1  take  pleasure  in  informing  you  that  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Invincible  Rlainc  and  Logan  Club,  held  September  i,  1884. 
yon  were  unanimously  elected  an  honorary  member  thereof. 

Trusting  that  the  history  of  the  past  two  campaigns,  in  which 
our  club  has  had  the  honor  to  participate,  may  be  repeated  at  ihe 
coming  election,  and  that  our  club  may  contribute  in  some  wav.  at 
least,  to  that  result,  I  remain. 

Respectfully  yours, 

HOWARD  GRAHAM, 

( Corresponding  Srcrctiirv. 


TMF.  STANDARD. 

(  Published  every    Friday  at  4*;  Church  street,    Lexington,    Kv..   b\ 
the   Intelligence   Publishing  Company,   Incorporated.) 

J.   E.    I>Krri«:  LKTTKK. 

Something  about  William  H.  Johnson,  of  Albany,  X.  Y. —  lie 
is  the  Avowed  Champion  of  Xegro  Manhood,  but  He  is  on  the 
Wrong  Side  of  the  Fence  —  An  Excerpt  from  a  Speech  Delivered 
in  1859. 

Probably  one  of  the  most  unique  characters  in  Xew  York  State 
politics  to-day  is  Dr.  William  H.  Johnson,  of  Albany,  who  belongs 
to  that  class  of  humanity  which  is  designated  "self-made."  He 
was  born  in  Yirginia,  and  left  that  State  because  it  wasn't  large 
enough  to  accommodate  his  ideas  as  to  what  constituted  manhood. 
He  has  lived  in  Xew  York  State  over  forty  years,  and  for  forty  years 
has-been  aggressively  battling  for  Xegro  manhood.  He  was  for  a 
number  of  years  identified  with  the  Republican  party  of  the  State, 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  95 

but  because  of  the  cowardice  and  treachery  of  certain  Republican 
leaders  in  a  matter  which  affected  the  rights  of  his  race  —  the 
passage  of  the  civil  rights  bill  —  he  left  the  Republican  party  and 
cast  his  fortunes  with  the  Democratic  party.  Since  that  period 
lie  has  been  a  sort  of  a  free  lance,  he  is  as  independent  as  "  a  hog 
on  ice/'  and  never  hesitates,  when  occasion  requires,  to  blast  not 
only  Republicans,  who  are  false  to  the  Xegro,  but  the  members  of 
his  own  party,  lie  is  very  popular  with  all  classes  of  Albanians  and 
highly  respected  by  the  representative  men  of  all  parties,  lie  is 
more  of  a  Xegro  than  a  partisan,  and  only  uses  parties  as  a  means 
lo  an  end.  1  have  before  me  a  speech  made  by  this  remarkable 
Xegro  gentleman  before  the  Banneker  Institute,  of  Philadelphia, 
I 'a.,  |uly  4,  1859,  from  which  I  will  quote  an  excerpt  to  show  the 
kind  and  quality  of  the  gray  matter  in  his  head:  "  1  say  to  you,  my 
fellow  disfranchised  American  citizens,  go  on,  the  pure  doctrine  of 
our  fathers  must  and  will  prevail;  the  principle  upon  which  Amer 
ican  independence  was  declared  and  sustained  will  yet  ride  out  of 
the  darkness  which  has  for  a  number  of  years  hung  over  it.  The 
day  is  not  distant  when  the  proper  spirit  will  actuate  the  American 
people  and  render  universal  emancipation  a  matter  of  necessity, 
and  slavery  will  be  known  only  in  history.  All  the  civilized  nations 
in  the  world  are  now  acknowledging  the  right  of  freedom  to  all 
mankind  and  America  must  sooner  or  later  follow  in  their  wake. 
This  is  encouraging  to  the  American  slave  for  he  is  a  man  endowed 
by  his  Creator  with  all  the  attributes  that  other  men  have,  and 
should  be  free.  So  says  the  declaration  of  our  independence." 

Air.  Johnson  discouraged  the  custom  which  obtained  among 
colored  men  of  burning  the  Constitution  of  the  L'nited  States  and 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  on  each  Fourth  of  July,  on  the 
ground  that  the  fathers  of  the  Revolution  meant  that  black  men 
should  be  comprehended  in  the  latter  document,  and  that  because 
their  descendants  refused  to  acknowledge  the  just  claims  of  the 
Xegro  to  share  in  its  benefits  and  provisions,  we  were  not  justified  in 
assailing  the  motives  of  the  fathers,  because  their  sons  proved  faith 
less  and  recreant  to  duty.  The  fathers  loved  justice  and  were  will 
ing  to  accord  it  to  the  faithful  blacks  who  helped  them  to  break 
down  British  rule  in  the  colonies  and  to  establish  this  government 
upon  an  enduring  foundation.  The  validity  of  a  will  made  by  a 
man  in  the  possession  of  all  his  faculties,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
forms  of  law,  could  not  be  affected  by  the  objections  of  his  heirs. 
As  a  legal  instrument  it  must  stand  and  will  stand;  the  Declara 
tion  of  independence  is  the  will  of  the  men  who  made  the  Republic, 


96  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HHXKY    JOHXSON. 

and  it  will  stand  as  long-  as  the  Republic  itself.  The  day  will  come 
when  the  American  people  will  gladly  comply  with  its  generous 
and  patriotic  provisions  and  assure  to  the  Xegro  every  right  and 
privilege  enjoyed  by  other  citizens  of  the  Republic. 

1  am  quite  willing  to  subscribe  to  this  sentiment  because  it  is  the 
kind  of  talk  1  like,  and  smacks  of  the  patriot  and  statesmen. 

I  saw  to-day  a  bust  of  Charles  Stunner  in  the  parlor  of  Mr. 
Johnson,  which  was  executed  by  Kdmonia  Lewis,  of  Rome,  and 
personally  presented  to  him  by  this  Xegro  sculptress. 

[.  E.  BRUCE. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     I1KNRY    JOHNSON.  (}/ 


CHAPTER  V. 

Tin-:  XEGRO  CITIZEN. 

1 1  is   Constitutional  Prerogatives  mid   Obligations. 
(Discussed  by   Dr.  Wm.  II.    Johnson.') 

The  Xegro  problem  forms  a  subject  that  is  agitating  the  public 
mind.  Thoughtful  men  of  both  races  are  looking  for  its  unravel- 
ment.  There  are  being  held  all  over  the  country  meetings  at  which 
much  indignation  has  been  expressed,  and  the  general  government 
has  been  the  subject  of  censure,  because  of  its  alleged  apathy  in 
dealing  with  the  Ivnchers. 

The  mass  meeting  held  in  the  Concord  Baptist  Church,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  "  Female  Lundy  Society,"  was  a  notable  departure 
from  the  general  rtde,  in  that  it  was  not  an  indignation  meeting, 
but  one  at  which  a  free  and  untrammeled  discussion  of  the  race 
trouble  was  gone  into.  The  primary  object  was  to  hud  not  only  the 
cause  that  underlies  the  difficulties,  but  to  have  pointed  out  a  wav  to 
reach  the  beginning  of  the  road  that  would  lead  to  a  practicable 
solution  of  the  vexed  question. 

A  contribution  to  the  columns  of  "  The  Colored  American."  pub 
lished  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  draws  a  parallel  between  the  favorable 
attitude  of  Kx-1  'resident  (Irant.  as  against  President  McKinlev's 
apparent  attitude  against  the  Xegro.  in  view  of  this  erroneous 
sentiment,  it  seems  to  me  that  1  will  be  pardoned  for  going  into  a 
discussion  of  the  matter  without  prejudice  against  or  ill-will  toward 
any  man,  witli  the  sole  purpose  to  right  a  wrong  done  toward  the 
government,  to  my  race  and  to  the  white  South. 

1  am  a  Xegro  American  citizen,  a  subject  of  this  great  Republic, 
proud  of  my  race  and  my  citizenship,  standing  first  and  last  by  and 
for  mv  country,  whether  she  is  right  or  wrong;  when  she  is  wrong, 
to  help  make  her  right;  when  right,  to  help  keep  her  so.  I  am, 
consequently  jealous  of  my  country's  honor,  and  am  prepared  in 
mv  humble  province  to  help  defend  her  proud  escutcheon  from 
assaults  bv  foes,  be  thev  at  home  or  abroad.  It  is  this  attitude;  my 
love  for  the  honor  of  the  old  flag  which  waves  its  protection  over  the 
citizen,  white  or  black,  native  born  and  naturalized,  in  conformity 
to  the  Federal  Constitution  as  legally  interpreted  by  the  highest 


98  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.     WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

judicial  authority  —  the  Supreme  Court.  It  is  this  loyalty  that 
impels  me  to  expose  the  fallacies  and  assumptions  of  the  would-be- 
Negro  leaders,  who  like  the  incompetent  French  officer  led  his 
followers  up  the  hill,  and  then  ingloriously  followed  them  down 
again.  They,  the  critics,  are  wrong  in  their  assumptions,  in  their 
premises,  in  their  deductions,  wrong  from  start  to  finish,  the  evi 
dence  is  all  against  them.  They  start  out  in  their  tirade  against 
Air.  McKinley  by  playing,  so  to  speak,  to  the  galleries,  in  that  they 
eulogize  the  late  President  Grant  —  a  braver,  nobler  or  more 
patriotic  American  never  lived.  \Ye  all  raise  our  hats  and  bow  out- 
heads  at  the  bare  mention  of  the  names  of  the  martyred  Lincoln  and 
the  heroic  General  U.  S,.  Grant.  Still  we  detest  the  hypocrite  and 
political  trickster,  who  uses  the  name  of  either  to  defame  the  high 
character  of  AJr.  McKinley  or  any  other  of  our  great  Presidents. 

I  want  to  say  that  every  President  of  the  United  States,  from  and 
including  Air.  Lincoln,  down  to  and  including  the  present  incum 
bent,  have  exerted  their  best  endeavors  to  protect  and  promote 
the  best  interests  of  the  Xegro.  Do  1  mean  to  include 
Mr.  Ex-President  Cleveland  in  the  category  of  Presidents 
who  have  safe-guarded  the  rights  of  the  Xegro?  I  do  most 
emphatically.  Air.  Cleveland  was  not  an  exception,  he  performed 
his  duty  as  chief  magistrate  of  the  government  in  accordance  with 
his  oath  of  office.  The  Presidents  have  all  done  so,  excepting  per 
haps  Hon.  James  Buchanan,  who  could  not  understand  how  a  State 
or  States  in  open  rebellion  against  the  government  did  not  forfeit 
their  constitutional  prerogatives  —  State  rights.  'The  Constitution 
is  clear  and  mandatory  upon  the  subject  of  State  rights. 

I  am  a  State  rights  man.  I  could  not  be  otherwise,  and  be  a  loyal 
citizen  of  this  government.  I  am  not  in  accord  and  don't  want  to 
be  with  the  self-established  negro  leaders  whose  object  is  to  mislead 
as  to  facts  for  selfish  purposes. 

1  am  a  believer  in  the  principle  of  State  sovereignty,  because  to 
deny  it  would  force  me  to  repudiate  the  Constitution,  and  that  1  will 
never  do.  Let  me  quote  some  provisions  of  the  Constitution;  the 
fundamental  law  of  this  land  in  support  of  my  position.  Let  us 
take  article  9  of  that  instrument  which  reads  as  follows:  "The 
enumeration  in  the  Constitution  of  certain  rights  shall  not  be  con 
strued  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the  people/'  This 
is  the  verbatim  language  of  the  Constitution  on  the  subject  of  State 
sovereignty.  It  is  a  clear  and  concise  affirmation  of  the  principles 
always  contended  for  by  the  South  upon  which  is  based  their  claim 
to  regulate  their  internal  or  domestic  affairs.  Upon  this  ground 


.U"r<)|;l<>(,kAPIiY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    11LXKY    JOltXSOX.  99 

the  States  deny  the  power  of  the  general  government  to  invade  the 
State  in  time  of  peace  to  quell  internal  disturbance,  other  than  bv 
request  of  the  Legislature  or  the  (Governor  thereof.  The  framers  of 
tiie  Constitution  seem  to  have  been  desirous  to  emphasize  their 
meaning  of  the  principle  of  State  rights,  for  in  the  next  article  - 
article  10.  we  find  this  language:  'The  powers  not  delegated  to 
the  I'nited  States  by  the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  to  it  by  the 
States,  are  reserved  to  the  States  respectively  or  to  the  people."  If 
this  language  means  anything  tangible,  it  means  that  the  people  of 
the  several  States  possess  exclusive  power  and  jurisdiction  over 
their  internal  affairs.  Jlence  the  negro,  comprising  part  of  the 
people,  is  not  exempt  from  his  constitutional  obligations,  and  the 
President  of  the  I'nited  States,  whether  he  be  a  Republican  or  a 
Democrat,  is  stopped  from  interfering  with  the  internal  affairs  of  the 
States  except  in  compliance  with  the  demand  of  the  State 
government. 

In  further  support  of  this  proposition,  I  call  your  attention  to 
article  4.  section  4,  which  provides  as  follows:  "The  I'nited  States 
shall  guarantee  to  every  State  in  the  union,  a  Republican  form  of 
government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against  invasion,  and  on 
application  of  the  Legislature  or  of  the  executive  (when  the  Legisla 
ture  cannot  be  convened)  against  domestic  violence." 

Now,  I.  want  any  of  the  critics  of  Air.  J 'resident  McKinlev,  to  tell 
me  how.  in  view  of  express  and  mandatory  provisions  of  the  funda 
mental  organized  law  of  the  I'nited  States,  the  President  can 
invade  the  States  with  the  armed  forces  of  the  government  to  sup 
press  mob  violence  unless  called  upon  to  do  so  bv  State  authority? 
1  hey  praise  Lx-1  'resident  (  irant  for  using  the  I  nited  States  forces, 
under  General  1'hil.  Sheridan  s  command,  to  suppress  and  wipe  out 
the.  "  Klu  Klux  Clan."  in  Xorth  Carolina  and  other  States  under 
going  reconstruction,  and  they  fail  to  state  that  at  that  time,  during 
the  eight  years  that  ( Jcncral  (irant  was  President,  from  i8o<j  to  1877, 
the  Confederate  States  were  undergoing  the  process  of  reconstruc 
tion  under  the  immediate  direction  of  a  Republican  Congress  ami 
the  military  genius  of  the  man  who  declared  that  he  would  "fight 
it  out.  on  this  line  if  it  took  all  summer."  That  the  executive  and 
the'  Legislature  of  all  those  States  were  of  the  same  party  faith  with 
the  President  and  Congress,  in  each  of  their  States  —  that  there  was 
a  preponderance  of  negroes  and  northern  white  men  in  office,  and 
that  the  military  power  dominated  the  entire  South,  and  that  the 
white  men  of  the  South,  because  of  the  rebellion,  were  under  the 


IOC          AUTOBIOGRAPHY    ()F    DR.    WILLIAM    IlI<:.\+RV 

laws  of  Congress  disfranchised  and,  like  the  southern  negro  of 
to-day,  were  powerless  to  protect  themselves. 

['resident  Grant  never  violated  his  constitutional  oath  of  office 
(as  is  implied  in  the  article  referred  to).  President  Grant  acted  with 
and  by  the  express  request  of  the  executive  and  Legislature  of  the 
State  governments  undergoing  reconstruction  in  the  maintenance 
of  their  J)e  Jurey  statutes.  The  United  States  forces  were  right 
fully  used  by  him  in  the  process  of  reconstruction,  in  obedience 
to  article  4,  section  4  of  the  Constitution,  and  not  in  opposition  to 
the  State  government. 

When  the  southern  States  were  reconstructed,  fully  under  and  in 
sympathy  with  the  political  party  then  in  power  at  Washington, 
President  Hayes,  by  virtue  of  the  power  he  possessed  as  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  with  the  approval  of  Congress,  withdrew 
the  armed  forces  from  the  South,  and  by  solemn  proclamation 
declared  the  process  of  reconstruction  complete.  Thus  everv 
southern  State  was,  by  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  readmitted 
to  the  sisterhood  of  States  just  as  though  there  had  been  no  war. 

The  President's  critics  charge  him  directly  with  the  failure  of  the 
Baker  jury  to  agree  to  a  verdict  of  conviction.  They  say  the  trial 
was  a  fizzle,  that  it  was  to  make  capital  for  William  McKinley  in 
1900.  Sheer  nonsense.  They  say  that  the  venue  ought  to  have 
been  changed  to  a  court  outside  of  South  Carolina  or  any  otlicr 
southern  State,  that  no  white  man  ever  was  or  ever  will  be  con 
victed  in  the  South  for  killing  a  Xegro,  etc.  If  this  were  true  (but  it 
is  not)  1  would  have  to  pray:  "Good  Lord,  help,  oh  help  mv 
people." 

If  the  southern  Xegro  cuts  loose  from  his  fool  friends  at  the  Xorth, 
and  places  his  dependence  upon  his  true  friends  at  the  South,  he  will 
soon  be  in  a  right  position.  The  Federal  Constitution  limits  trials 
of  lawbreakers  to  the  State  where  the  crime  is  committed.  (See 
article  6.)  Jt  declares  that  "  in  all  criminal  prosecution,  the  accused 
shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial  by  an  impartial 
jury  of  the  State  and  district  wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been 
committed,  which  district  shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  bv 
law:" 

X'ow,  as  to  the  facts  in  the  case.  President  AlcKinley,  at  the 
urgent  and  persistent  importunities  of  the  colored  Republicans  of 
South  Carolina,  appointed  Mr.  Fraser  J.  Baker,  a  Republican  Xegro, 
postmaster  of  Lake  City,  of  that  State,  against  the  protest  of  the 
dominant  whites  of  that  section.  Baker  was  inducted  into  office. 
The  opposition  of  the  whites  was  pronounced.  They  almost  to  a 


Al.'TOTUOr.RAPITY    OF    DR.    WTLLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  IO\ 

man  demanded  his  removal.    The  Negroes  of  his  and  the  President's 

party  Xorth  and  South  insisted  upon  his  retention.  He  was  retained 
by  the  I 'resident.  On  the  night  of  January  7,  1898,  a  mob  sur 
rounded  Maker's  house,  applied  the  torch,  and  as  Haker  came  out  he 
was  brutallv  shot  to  death,  his  wife  was  wounded,  and  his  infant 
baby,  in  its  mother's  arms,  was  also  shot  to  death.  This  dastardly 
outrage  was  committed  by  a  mob  of  low-down  whites,  solely  because 
Maker  was  a  Republican  Xegro  postmaster,  the  appointee  of  a 
Republican  President,  upon  the  demand  of  the  Xegroes  at  the 


His  critics  knew  all  this,  still  they  seek  to  blacken  the  fame  of  the 
executive  bv  implication  of  I 'resident  AlcKinley,  who,  in  the  minds 
of  all  true  race-loving  and  loval  Xegro  Americans,  has  proven  him 
self  the  true  friend  of  both  races,  south  and  north. 

(  Hher  crimes  committed  in  the  South  against  my  race  were 
regarded  as  nothing  compared  to  this.  Here  was  a  case,  a  crime 
against  the  majesty  of  the  general  government,  one  of  which  the 
government  must  take  cognizance  of,  and  it  did.  The  best  element 
ot  humanity  south  and  north  sympathizes  with  the  surviving  family 
of  the  murdered  Maker  and  demand  retribution  at  the  hands  of 
justice.  •  P>v  command  of  the  President,  the  Department  of  Justice, 
at  Washington,  inaugurated  and  prosecuted  a  determined  effort  to 
bring  the  culprits  to  the  bar  of  justice;  this  effort  resulted  in  the 
arrest  of  thirteen  of  the  leading  conspirators  who  were  brought  to 
trial  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  in  the  Cnited  States  District 
Court  of  that  State.  The  presiding  judge  was  I'nited  States  Justice 
Brawley,  who  is  not  a  creature  of  the  President.  He  was  and  is  a 
federal  judge,  holding  a  life  term  of  office.  The  President  has  no 
more  control  over  him  or  over  the  selection  of  the  jury  than  he 
could  have  over  the  court-martial  that  will  re-try  the  much-abused 
Captain  Dreyfus  in  France.  All  the  forms  of  law  under  the  Con 
stitution  were  complied  with.  Skilled  counsel,  northern  men  with 
northern  sympathy  for  the  blacks,  and  interested  in  maintaining  the 
honor  and  dignitv  of  our  country,  were  employed  by  the  govern 
ment.  At  the  trial,  two  of  the  conspirators  became  penitent,  turned 
State's  witnesses,  and  testified  in  detail  to  the  horrors  of  the  lynch 
ing.  The  case  was  argued  on  both  sides,  and  submitted  to  the  jury 
by  a  judge  whose  prejudice  had  been  enlisted  against  the  Xegroes  by 
the  hurtful  utterances  sent  into  the  south  land  by  indiscreet  agitators 
of  the  tvpe  1  condemn.  After  long  deliberation  the  jurv  returned  a 
verdict  of  disagreement,  eight  standing  for  acquittal  and  four  for 
conviction. 


IO2  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WIT/LI  AM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

1  have  given  a  clear,  unvarnished  statement  of  facts  touching  the 
power  of  the  general  government  to  interfere  in  the  interest  of  the 
Xegro  South.  The  government  can  only  deal  with  the  citizens  of 
the  States  through  the  government  of  the  States.  'This  is  true 
whether  the  citizen  is  white  or  black.  This  every  Xegro  ought  to 
know,  and  then  govern  himself  accordingly.  Mad  the  accused  in 
the  Baker  case  been  convicted,  the  President  would  have  possessed 
under  the  Constitution  power  to  enforce*  the  decree  ot  the  court, 
and  would  doubtlesslv  have  done  so,  if  it  required  the  service's  of 
every  soldier  and  sailor  in  the  United  States.  This  government 
does  not  derive  power  from  heredity  succession  as  -does  (  ircat 
Britain,  Russia  and  ( lermany.  This  is  not  a  hereditary  monarchy, 
but  it  is  a  combination  of  sovereign  States,  deriving  power  from  tin- 
States  and  the  people  thereof.  All  power  not  granted  to  the  gov 
ernment  bv  the  Constitution  is  retained  bv  the  States  and  the 
people,  citizens  of  the  United  States,  are  all  upon  an  equal  basis 
before  the  law.  It  there  ever  was  anv  doubt  upon  this  point,  it  was 
happilv  removed  b\  the  adoption  of  the  (i-|th)  amendment,  which 
reads:  "All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  I'nited  States,  and 
subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of  the  I'nited  States 
and  of  the  States  \\lierein  they  reside.  Xo  State  shall  make  or 
enforce  any  law  which  shall  abridge  the  privileges  or  immunities  of 
citizens  of  the  I'nited  States,"  etc.  Here  you  find  the  reaffirmation 
of  the  principle,  that  the  citizen  is  only  readied  through  the  State, 
and  never  directly. 

\\  e  are  living  in  a  progressive  age.  Men  to  exert  influence  must 
keep  up  with  and  abreast  of  the  times.  As  regards  the  manv  sug 
gested  schemes  to  solve  the  race  problem,  I  regard  none  with 
favor  that  in  anv  manner  suggest  deportation,  emigration  ami 
colonization,  or  internal  diffusion.  They  are  all  hurtful  to  the  best 
interests  of  my  race,  who  mean  to  stay  here  and  like  true  citizens  as 
they  are,  fight  out  this  battle  of  life  like  men.  1  am  glad  that  the 
Xegro  is  a  citizen  of  this  country,  a  factor  in  her  development,  shar 
ing  in  her  glory,  willing  to  suffer  part  of  the  white  man's  burden. 
I  am  hopeful  of  the  speedy  acceptance  of  my  race  as  equal  in  the 
body  politic. 

The  flag  of  the  Union,  with  its  alternate  stripes  of  red  and  white, 
and  its  field  of  blue  with  stars  representing  the  sovereignty  of  forty- 
five  States,  affords  good  enough  protection  for  me  and  mine. 
There  is  no  good  reason  why  the  southern  white  man  and  the 
southern  black  m;m  should  not  live  in  peace  and  harmony  along  the 
lines  suggested  bv  Booker  T.  Washington,  Bishops  Gaines  and 


ublished  bv  Thui 


THE  I, AST  MOMENTS  OF  JOHN  BKOWN. 
MS  Hovendon  aud  Frederick  Josling  &  Co.,  New  York,  about 


1834. 


NAN  A,  THE  WHITE  SLAVE. 


f  M  {$!$  MfMM 


<TATKSMl-:\. 


(Jov.  THEODORE  KOOSKVELT, 
Wlio  signed  the  Anti-Discriminating  School  Law  of  11)00, 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  TO? 

I  lood,  John  C.  I  )ancy.  Dr.  L.  A.  Struggs,  J.  W.  Lyons,  Register  of 
llie  Treasury,  Ex-Governor  Pinchback  and  other  raee  leaders  of 
their  type. 

1  believe  that  it  is  not  onlv  possible  but  probable  that  this  country 
under  its  beneficient  and  intelligent  form  of  national  and  State 
government  will  surpass  any  other  nation  on  the  face  of  the  globe  — 
in  durability,  in  liberality,  and  in  the  march  of  civilization,  educa 
tion  and  religion.  I  am  an  expansionist;  I  rejoice  at  the  onward, 
aggressive  and  glorious  extension  of  the  domain  of  the  United 
States.  I  am  glad  to  see  that  we  have  reached  out  an  arm  and 
planted  our  flag  upon  soil  beyond  the  seas. 

There  is  no  color  line  in  my  philosophy.  Constitutional  preroga 
tives  and  obligations  are  the  natural  legitimate  and  logical  inherit 
ances  of  the  citizen  to  be  shared  alike  by  all,  regardless  of  race,  color 
or  condition. 

The  southern  white  man  .  believes  that  the  Xegro  wants  to 
domineer  and  rule;  the  Xegro  doesn't  ijuite  comprehend  his  consti 
tutional  rights  and  responsibility,  and  banks  too  much  upon  assump 
tion.  1  know  that  there  is  a  bad  and  lawless  element  of  the  Xegro 
as  well  as  the  white  man  at  the  South;  both  ought  to  be  suppressed. 
The  good  name,  the  future  happiness  of  the  law-abiding  Xegro 
demands  that  he  should  help  suppress  the  bad  element.  The 
sweeping  denunciation  of  the  white  South,  upon  general  principles, 
will  not  do  it.  It  is  wrong;  it  does  not  help  the  Xegro  at  the 
North.  It  hurts  the  X'egro  at  the  South.  There  is  upward  of 
eighty-five  millions  of  people  basking  under  the  sunshine  of  this 
nation's  flag;  of  that  number  there  are  but  ten  million  X^egroes. 
The  indiscreet  meddlesome  northern  Xegro  and  the  lawless  south 
ern  Negro  have  forced  the  white  South  against  us;  and  two-thirds 
of  the  white  X'orth,  in  the  event  of  trouble,  would  not  be  for  us, 
against  the  white  South.  Blood  is  thicker  than  water.  Race 
prejudice  will  always  exist  to  more  or  less  extent.  T  do  not  appre 
hend  a  race  war:  but  should  one  come,  it  will  be  justly  charged  up 
against  the  egotistical,  self-appointed  Negro  leaders,  who  will  not 
listen  to  the  logic  of  current  events,  who,  for  political  aggrandize 
ment  or  mercenary  gain,  are  unmindful  of  the  welfare  of  their  race. 

Governor  Roosevelt,  in  his  speech  at  Rochester,  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  Douglass  statue,  spoke  truthfully  when  he  said  that  "  We  have 
seen  infamous  scenes  in  the  X'orth  as  well  as  in  the  South.  We 
have  seen  infamous  crimes  punished  still  more  infamously.  T  would 
have  both  the  white  and  the  colored  man  pursue  relentlessly  those 
who  disgrace  the  race  to  which  they  belong.  T  would  impress  every 


168  AUTOBTOC.R. \PITY    OF    DR.    WTLLTAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

man  who  takes  part  in  a  lynching,  that  lie  not  only  ])cr])etrates  a 
wrong  to  the  colored  man,  but  that  lie  disgraces  his  nation.  Such 
scenes  sear  the  souls  of  all  who  take  part  in  them." 

Never  were  truer  words  spoken;  all  can  subscribe  to  them.  \\  c 
are  not  without  strong  and  influential  friends  at  the  South  as  at  the 
North. 

Xote  the  manly  utterance  of  Ex-Governor  Northern,  of  ( icorgia, 
in  his  famous  speech  at  lioston,  June  8th,  last;  he  said:  "  1  am  the 
friend  of  the  Negro  in  my  State,  and  they  recognize  in  me  one  of 
their  strongest  defenders.  The  South  has  made  one  great 

mistake,  attributable,  I  am  sure,  to  poverty  and  the  bitterness 
engendered  by  reconstruction,  in  failing  to  rear  a  monument  to  the 
slaves  of  1860  to  1865,  for  their  unceasing  devotion  to  our  homes 
and  the  gallant  protection  they  gave  to  the  women  and  children  of 
the  South  all  through  the  dark  days  of  our  bloody  civil  strife.  If 
anything  like  it  has  occurred  in  the  history  of  nations,  I  have  never 
read  it.  All  honor  and  gratitude  to  the  old-time  Negro,  as  we  knew 
him  before  and  during  the  war." 

When  the  mob  arrested  the  Negro  preacher.  Lige  Strickland,  as 
an  accomplice  of  Sam  llose,  on  the  plantation  of  Major  Thomas, 
at  Palmetto,  (ia.,  the  grey-headed  old  confederate  soldier  defended 
Strickland.  This  aroused  the  mob,  and  a  messenger  was  sent  t«> 
advise  Major  Thomas  to  leave  Palmetto  for  his  own  good;  but 
the  old  gentleman  was  not  frightened,  lie  drew  himself  up  and  said 
emphatically:  "  I  have  never  been  before  ordered  to  leave  a  town, 
and  I  am  not  going  to  leave  this  one."  And  then  the  major. 
uplifting  his  hand  to  give  his  words  force,  said  to  the  messenger: 
'Tell  them  the  muscles  in  my  legs  are  not  trained  to  running:  tell 
them  I  have  stood  the  fire  and  heard  the  whistle  of  minnies  from  a 
thousand  Yankee  rifles,  and  I  am  not  frightened  by  this  crowd." 
Major  Thomas  was  not  molested. 

Note,  again,  the  attitude  of  fustice  James  Aldrich,  of  Columbia, 
S.  C.,  in  his  charge  to  a  jury  in  an  assault  case  against  virtue,  alleged 
to  have  been  committed  by  a  Xegro.  He  declares  that,  "  Behind 
the  hand  of  the  lynchers  may  be  the  power  of  Samson,  but  in  the 
exercise  of  that  power  they  pull  down  the  temple  of  justice  upon  the 
heads  of  themselves  and  their  families  and  their  posterity,  and  in 
place  of  peace  and  order,  civilization  and  Christianity,  they  would 
hurl  the  country  into  the  lap  of  barbarism.  A  land  without  la\v  is 
a  land  without  liberty;  and  a  land  without  liberty  is  a  land  where  the 
powerful  oppress  the  weak- — -where  might  makes  right." 


Arrol'.KMiRAPHY    OF    DR.     \\JL1JAM     HliKRY    JOHXSOX.  1OO, 

1  want  now  to  have  you  note  the  action  of  Governor  Bradley,  of 
<  ieorgia,  in  his  prompt  suppression  of  the  "  White  Caps,"  when  they 
attempted  to  oust  the  colored  employes  out  of  the  Kincade  mines,  at 
Griffin,  in  that  State,  on  the  2(1  of  May  last.  When  the  situation 
was  made  known,  lie  responded  promptly,  and  in  an  hour's  time  the 
Griffin  Rifles  were  in  their  armory  awaiting  order  from  Judge 
Hammond.  The  mavor  also  ordered  all  the  police  force  on  dntv. 
The  colored  employes  were  protected. 

Xote,  again,  the  splendid  utterance  of  Judge  Kmery  Speer,  at 
Macon,  Ga.,  June  6th.  Me  said:  "The  punishment  of  criminals 
must  be  kept  within  the  bounds  of  civilization  and  within  the  pale  of 
the  law.  The  contrary  course  is  debasing  and  effective  only  in 
delaying  fixed  correction  and  prevention.  J  solemnly  assert  with  a 
full  knowledge  of  the  import  of  what  I  say,  that  the  crimes  that  have 
so  inflamed  the  white  people  of  this  country  against  the  Xegro 
race,  are  foreign  to  these  people,  whom  1  have  known  and  loved 
since  my  childhood  and  whom  I  will  know  and  love  until  my  eyes 
are  closed  in  death." 

Xeed  I  instance  other  evidences  or  professions  of  friendship  for 
m\  race  expressed  bv  white  men  at  the  South."  In  view  of  these 
facts.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  why  the  Xegro  South  don't 
en-operate  with  the  white  South,  with  the  power  that  can  and  will. 
if  trusted,  stand  by  and  protect  him  from  mob  violence.  The  war 
of  the  rebellion  is  in  the  dead  past;  all  animosity  should  be  buried 
with  the  past.  We  are  all  American  citizens,  and  as  such  should  go 
forward  regardless  of  the  past,  living  in  the  real  present.  In  180^ 
and  1866.  lynching  was  rampant  at  the  Xorth.  The  Xegro  was 
then  the  undermost  dog  in  the  fight,  as  he  is  to-day  at  the  South. 
Xegroes  were  mobbed,  their  property  destroyed  and  their  lives 
sacrificed  in  defiance  of  right  and  justice.  Orphan  asylums  were 
burned  to  the  ground  in  Brooklyn,  only  because  they  were  Xegro 
institutions.  Colored  men  were  hanged  to  lamp-posts  until  dead  in 
the  great  city  of  Xew  York,  for  no  other  cause  than  race  hatred. 
Xegroes  were  shut  out  of  the  public  schools,  and.  in  this  goodly  city 
of  Albanv,  curtains  were  drawn  to  separate  the  white  and  the  black 
people  in  some  churches.  I  know  and  testify  to  the  absolute  truth 
fulness  of  these  facts.  1  was  a  living  protesting  witness  of  such  sins. 

To-day,  the  State  of  Xew  York  leads  in  the  van  of  States  that 
accord  and  maintain  equal  rights  for  all.  To-day,  a  Xegro  judge 
presides  over  the  Recorder's  Court,  passes  judgment  upon  and  sends 
to  the  penitentiary  black  and  white  convicts  alike,  and  exercises  in 
chambers  Supreme  Court  prerogatives. 


iiO  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    <>F    J)K.    WILLIAM     I1KXRY    jOlIXSONf. 

What  has  been  accomplished  here  can  be  accomplished  South. 
If  the  intelligent  country  and  race-loving  Xegro  citizens  join  hands 
with  the  strong  men  of  both  geographical  sections  in  efforts  to 
expand  the  glorious  onward  march  of  our  impregnable  and  com 
mon  country,  all  would  be  well. 

A  word  upon  the  subject  of  representatives  to  Congress.  There 
has  been  so  much  said  that  is  misleading,  that,  in  my  way  of  think 
ing,  an  explanation  is  in  order.  There  are  many  good  people  Xortli 
and  South,  who  assume  that  the  enumeration  is  made  upon  the  basis 
of  the  elector  (the  voter),  and  that  Congress  controls  the  matter. 
Such  is  not  altogether  the  case.  Under  the  Constitution  the  enu 
meration  is  based  upon  the  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  States, 
the  word  inhabitant  meaning  citizens,  men,  women  and  children, 
born  in  the  United  States  or  naturalized.  See  article  I,  section  2, 
clause  3,  which  says:  "  Representatives  shall  be  apportioned  among 
the  several  States  which  may  be  included  within  this  union  accord 
ing  to  their  respective  numbers." 

Now,  take  article  14,  section  2  of  the  amended  Constitution,  it 
provides  that  "  But  when  the  right  to  vote  at  anv  election  for  the 
choice  of  electors  for  President  and  A  ice-President  of  the  United 
States,  Representatives  in  Congress,  the  executive  and  judicial 
officers  of  a  State  or  the  members  of  the  Legislature  thereof,  is 
denied  to  any  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  such  State,  being  twenty-one 
years  of  age  and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  way 
abridged  except  for  participation  in  rebellion  or  other  crimes.  The1 
basis  of  representation  therein  shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion 
which  the  number  of  such  male  citizens  shall  bear  to  the  whole 
number  of  male  citizens  twenty-one  years  of  age  in  such  State." 
Under  this  amendment  Congress  possesses  the  power  to  reduce  the 
number  of  Representatives  from  the  southern  States,  that  in  their 
Constitution  abridge  or  reduce  the  voting  strength  of  the  State  for 
any  causes  enumerated  in  article  14.  But  will  this  help  a  Repub 
lican  Congress  to  enact  a  law  to  that  effect  in  view  of  the  fact  that, 
by  such  reduction,  the  party's  strength  in  its  national  convention 
would  also  be  reduced.  I  want  to  say,  from  long  personal  experi 
ence,  that  neither  political  party  care  a  rap  for  the  voter,  be  lie  white 
or  black,  that  doesn't  bring  grist  to  their  mill ;  hence  the  solicitude 
of  the  Republican  party  for  the  southern  Xegro  is  in  a  great 
measure  influenced  by  the  fealty  of  that  element  of  convention- 
making  power.  The  friends  of  every  Presidential  candidate  in 
national  Republican  convention  look  to  the  Xegro  Republican  of 
the  South  to  form  the  bala.nce  of  power  in  their  candidate's  favor. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  HI 

When  it  is  understood  that  the  basis  of  representation  to  national 
conventions  is  based  upon  the  principle  that  governs  the  representa 
tives  to  Congress,  it  is  easy  to  understand  why  neither  party  is  likely 
to  favor  a  change,  that  will  in  the  one  case  reduce  its  power  in  Con 
gress  from  the  South,  and  in  the  other  cause  a  reduction  of  its 
strength  in  its  national  conventions.  The  logical  deduction,  drawn 
from  these  premises,  is  that  the  Xegro  citizen  must  accept  the  situa 
tion  just  as  he  finds  it,  just  as  it  is  to-day.  He  must  rest  his  case 
upon  the  same  foundation  that  the  white  citizen  does,  on  the  Con 
stitution  as  it  is  to  day,  and  pool  his  interest  with  the  State  and  local 
factors  wherever  he  resides,  and  that  too  without  regard  to  previous 
political  affiliation.  Self-preservation  is,  if  not  the  just  law 
of  nature,  a  verv  healthy  one  just  the  same. 

This  is  mv  solution  of  the  race  question.  We  made  the  fight  for 
civil,  equal  and  political  rights  here  upon  these  lines.  This  is  not 
party  politics.  It  is  common  sense,  self-reliance,  self-protection;  it 
means  the  full  recognition  of  the  Xegro  as  a  man  and  citizen,  not 
only  at  the  North,  but  at  the  South,  by  the  people  of  the  I'nited 
States. 

I  have  before  me  a  copy  of  the  Evening  Standard,  published  at 
\e\v  Bedford.  Mass.,  Tune  2^d.  It  contains  the  full  text  of  the 
adopted  report  read  by  the  chairman,  Dr.  I).  P.  Brown,  of  the 
Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Country,  at  a  session  of  the  Annual 
Conference  of  the  New  England  A.  M.  E.  church.  In  said  report 
the  following  reference  is  made  regarding  the  Governor  of  New 
York:  "  If  before  his  election  as  Governor  of  Xew  York,  Roosevelt 
called  our  soldiers  brave  men  and  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of 
them,  yet,  since  his  election,  he  calls  these  same  soldiers  cowards 
shame  on  such  a  man  who  could  contradict  himself;  which  only 
shows  to  the  world  his  only  desire  was  to  secure  the  black  man's 
vote." 

1  would  like  to  know  what  is  the  matter  with  my  old  friend 
Dr.  Brown  and  the  Annual  Conference?  The  assertion  that  our 
( Governor  ever  called  colored  soldiers  cowards  is  far  from  being 
true.  Will  the  good  doctor,  or  some  of  his  conferrees,  tell  when, 
where  and  under  what  circumstances  the  leader  of  the  "  Rough 
Riders  "  uttered  the  sentiments  they  attribute  to  him? 

It  strikes  me  that  the  time  is  opportune  for  the  Afro-American 
citizen  to  cease  unpatriotic  fault-finding,  unfair  criticism  and  mis 
representation  of  the  government's  public  servants,  and  manifest 
some  patriotic  sentiment.  There  has  been  much  criticism  because 
Negro  troops,  put  in  the  field,  are  not  officered  by  colored  com- 


112  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    ()K    DR.    WILLIAM     11KXRY    JOHNSON. 

manders;  the  writers  of  this  kind  of  stuff  do  not  know  what  thev 
are  talking-  about.  I  venture  to  say  that  not  one  of  them  has  ever 
been  under  fire.  These  critics,  as  a  rule,  are  the  ones  who  stay  at 
home  until  the  danger  of  invasion  drives  them  into  the  woods;  the 
rank  and  file  of  my  raee  do  not  approve  of  their  action.  This  is 
apparent  by  the  thousands  who  enlisted  and  served  through  the 
Spanish-American  war,  many  of  whom  received  honorable  mention 
in  general  orders,  and,  valuable  medals  for  bravery  in  the  field  along 
the  fire  line.  I  venture  also  to  declare  that,  if  the  government 
wishes,  it  can  in  sixty  days  recruit  one  hundred  thousand  patriotic 
Negroes  to  help  maintain  the  honor  of  "Old  (ilory,"  at  home  or 
abroad;  and  that  too  without  stopping  to  question  the  complexion 
of  the  men  placed  in  command,  so  long  as  they  are  fitted  for  the 
service  by  education,  intelligence,  experience  and  discretion.  The 
Xegro  eligible  to  enter  the  service  will  do  so  upon  the  patriotic 
principles  that  actuated  the  brave  men  of  the  Xinth  and  Tenth 
Cavalry  and  the  Twenty-fourth  and  Twenty-fifth  Tnfantrv.  and 
abide  their  time  to  win  the  shoulder-strap,  the  bar,  the  leaf,  the 
eagle  and  the  star. —  [Everybody's  Paper  and  Magazine,  September, 
1800. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    J1EXRV     IOIIXSOX. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

UNCONDITIONAL  RKITMLICAN  CIAT,  OF  ALISAXV,  X.  Y. 
Excursion  to  the  Republican  A  ational  i  on'i'cntwn  at  Philadelphia-. 

My  tri]>  to  Philadelphia  with  the  famous  Unconditional  Club, 
upon  the  sound  steamer,  Shinnecock,  was  delightful.  I  confess  that 
I  was  a  little  under  the  weather  from  sea-sickness  during  our  trip 
from  Sandy  I  look  to  the  Delaware  break-water.  P>ut  that  was  dis 
counted  by  the  heart}'  and  earnest  welcome  that  1  met  with  upon  my 
reaching  the  good  old  town  of  my  young  manhood.  I  mean  the 
most  delightful  citv  that  I  have  ever  struck — Philadelphia.  "\\  e 
reached  there  about  ten  o'clock  i*.  M.,  Monday,  and  had  a  short 
street  parade.  M  \  heart  filled  with  gratification  when  the  column 
turned  out  of  liroad  street  into  Pino,  where  1  received  a  most  wel 
come  salutation  from  Misses  Dora  Cole  and  Henrietta  Fdwards, 
who  were  in  company  with  Fred  Van  Vranken,  of  this  city.  It 
was  then  about  twelve,  midnight.  1  left  the  ranks  and  wended  mv 
wav  to  mv  sister's,  Airs.  Martha  A.  (ames,  residence,  \^2$  Fit/ 
water  street,  who,  with  her  two  daughters,  Fmma  and  Martha,  and 
son,  William  II..  received  me  in  their  open  arms.  This  was  the 
night  of  the  eighteenth  of  June.  Earlv  the  next  morning  L  dropped 
into  the  Douglass  Memorial  Hospital,  1512  Lombard  street,  where 
I  met  Dr.  Alossell  and  his  efficient  medical  staff.  After  calling  mv 
attention  to  the  bust  of  Sumner,  which  occupies  a  conspicuous  place 
in  the  office,  he  invited  me  to  visit  his  residence,  where  1  had  the 
pleasure  to  be  presented  to  his  madam.  1  found  her  to  be  a  delight 
ful  lady,  a  deep  and  sound  thinker,  and  a  brilliant  writer.  Mrs. 
Mossell  is  a  woman  to  challenge  the  admiration  of  every  race-loving" 
man  and  woman. 

1  next  meandered  to  the  business  office  and  residence  of  mv  life 
long  and  dear  friend.  Prof.  J.  C.  White,  Xo.  1023  Lombard  street. 
I  met  the  welcome  from  him  and  his  charming  wife  that  I  expected. 
I  dined  with  them  that  day.  Later  on  I  was  furnished  with  three 
admissions  to  the  Convention,  but  I  have  to  acknowledge  that  I 
returned  home  without  reaching  the  promised  land,  although  \ 

8 


114  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OK    J>R.    WILLIAM     HEXRY    JOHNSON. 

viewed  it  from  a  distance,  while  en  route  to  Essington  to  visit  my 
foster-sistcr,  Mrs.  George  W.  Bordley,  and  her  daughter,  Mamie. 

Somehow  I  got  mixed  up  in  the  social  swim  I  saw  and  struck 
hands  with  many  old  friends  of  days  gone  by,  and  many  of  the 
children  of  departed  friends.  Among  those  were  Mrs.  William 
Stevens,  ninety  years  of  age,  and  her  daughter,  Madam  Samuel 
Durham,  mother  of  John  Durham,  ex-Minister  to  llayti. 
and  her  daughter-in-law,  the  widow  of  another  old  friend, 
the  late  Andrew  F.  Stevens,  and  their  son,  Major  A.  P., 
and  daughter,  Helen.  I  met  Corbin  Taylor,  A.  S.  Gassy, 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Lewis  Mintess,  Mrs.  John  Page,  Mrs.  Gharles 
Edwards,  Mrs.  Susan  Lane  and  family,  Mrs.  S.  Augustus, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Levi  Crumwell,  of  Lombard  street,  and  spent 
a  pleasant  time  with  all.  I  found  Mrs.  Josephine  \Yyatt,  of  1437 
South  Nineteenth  street,  looking  as  young  as  she  did  thirty  years 
ago.  1  did  not  meet  her  charming  daughters,  but  would  like  to 
have.  I  met  Airs.  John  Mitchell,  who  used  to  live  here,  and  Lizzie 
Myers;  I  mean  Mrs.  S.  Govern;  also,  Tliabertha  Smith,  sister  of  my 
old  friend,  S.  Morgan  Smith,  the  actor;  Lena  Morgan,  the  daughter 
of  the  man  with  whom  I  learned  my  trade,  and  St.  George  R. 
Taylor's  widow,  one  of  my  old  Banneker  friends. 

1  also  saw  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson.  Airs.  Jackson  was  once  a  Miss 
Llowers;  afterwards,  Mrs.  I.  X.  Carey.  I  received  a  pleasant  recep 
tion  from  both.  The  madam  is  holding  her  own  and  shines  like  a 
green  bay  leaf.  I  met  Dr.  Clarence  Howard,  James  Xeedham,  a 
first  cousin  of  James  C.  Matthews,  of  this  city.  Both  of  these  gen 
tlemen  were  on  the  General  Reception  Committee  of  the  city  and 
extended  me  very  pleasant  courtesies.  I  found  my  old  friend,  Robt. 
Xelson,  of  2006  South  College  avenue.  He,  Corbin  Taylor  and  A.  S. 
Gassy  are  the  only  surviving  members  of  the  once  famous  Phoenix 
Social  Club,  including  the  writer  of  this  letter. 

I  met  Mr.  and  Mrs.  j.  S.  Allen,  of  Camac  street,  and  Mrs.  Free 
man  of  South  Twelfth  street:  Will  Mortimore,  of  Reading.  They 
are  all  delightful  people.  This  meeting,  after  years  of  absence, 
brought  back  vivid  memories  of  the  past. 

When  I  came  home  —  and  L  did  not  walk  —  I  found  some  non-de- 
script  reporter  of  the  Evening  Journal  had  been  endeavoring  to 
gain  some  notoriety  by  poking  fun  at  me  after  this  fashion.  I  do 
not  blame  him  for  his  envy.  I  had  the  fun,  was  in  it,  and  he  was 
not. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   DR.   WILLIAM   HENRY  JOHNSON.         115 

"ALBANY  EVENING  JOURNAL. 
(founded  in   1830  by  Thurlow  Weed.) 

FRIDAY   KYKNING,  June  22,    1900. 

Dr.  William  11.  Johnson,  \vlio  lias  tackled  all  corners  on  all  ques 
tions  politically,  at  his  well-known  establishment  on  Maiden  Lane, 
has  struck  his  colors,  the  trip  on  the  Shinnecock  being-  just  one  too 
much  lor  him. 

Yesterday  his  assistant  received  word  from  the  Doctor  in  Phila 
delphia.  Regarding  the  trip  he  said:  "T  didn't  go  overboard,  but 
all  my  meals  did.  1  will  come  home  bv  train  Saturday." 

The  Doctor  couldn't  stand  another  salt-water  trip,  and  gracefully 
struck  his  colors,  and  decided  to  travel  homeward  bv  rail.  A  mem 
ber  of  the  club  says  he  saw  the  Doctor  leaning  over  the  Shinnecock's 
railing,  looking  awful  pale  and  sickly.  lie  walked  up  to  him  and 
said:  "  \\liy,  '  Doc,'  1.  thought  you  had  a  good  stomach.'" 

Doc  '  looked  up  sadly  and  said:  "  So  I  have.  Don't  YOU  see  that 
1  am  shooting  as  far  as  any  of  them." 

Al.l'.AXV    FVEXINC     Jol'UXAL. 

SATURDAY  KYKNJNO;,  June  23,  1900. 

Dr.  William  II.  Johnson  returned  this  morning  from  Philadel 
phia,  loaded  down  with  campaign  badges.  He  is  one  of  the  original 
Roosevelt  men,  and  by  the  Governor's  nomination  he  is  in  several 
bets  with  State  officers." 

I  remained  in  Philadelphia  until  Fridav  morning,  and  came  home 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Central  and  Xew  York  Hudson  River  railroads. 
J  stopped  over  in  Xew  York  city  for  dinner;  called  on  mine  host, 
John  Xail;  met  Archie  Roberts  and  Fd.  Flow.  Reached  home  at 
night,  with  a  deep  and  settled  resolution  never  to  go  on  the  ocean 
again. 

( )n  my  way  to  the  Grand  Central  depot  I  almost  ran  down  A.  l>. 
Tavlor.  the  little  dark  complexioned  Adonis  of  Fairport,  Monroe 
county,  lie,  like  invself,  was  endeavoring  to  catch  the  6  r.  M. 
train,  but  he  took  time  to  smile  at  me,  and  allowed  me  to  smile  at 
him.  lie  is  an  assistant  janitor  of  the"  State  Senate,  very  popular 
with  his  party.  We  came  up  the  road  together,  and  had  a  delightful 
trip. 

I  had  the  pleasure  to  drop  into  several  Republican  clubs  whilst: 
in  the  Quaker  Citv.  The  Citizens'  Club,  located  at  Broad  and  Lorn- 


Il6  AUTOinOGRAlMlY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    IIK^RY    JOHNSON*. 

bard,  is  a  daisy;  it  is  in  the  hotel  district.     The  club  occupies  an 
entire  house,  with  all  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging". 

This  Negro  (organization  of  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  has  an 
enrolled  membership  of  i.ooo.  Jts  founder  and  first  president,  now 
deceased,  was  A.  F.  Stevens,  Esq.  The  club  turned  out  in  the  grand 
parade  on  the  evening  of  the  eighteenth.  Each  member  wore 
bronze  medals  bearing  the  portrait  of  the  founder,  and 

Xil  Sine  Lahore 
inscribed  on  the  reverse  side. 

One  of  these  medals  was  presented  to  me  as  a  keepsake,  in  mem- 
orv  of  one  of  my  earliest  and  dearest  friends. 

1  had  the  pleasure  to  meet  Mrs.  Thomas  Bowers.  She  is  the 
widow  of  one  of  the  unique  figures  of  that  beautiful  city.  Her  hus 
band  many  years  ago  conducted  a  first-class  merchant  tailoring 
establishment,  located  on  Second  street,  near  Chestnut,  in  connec 
tion  with  his  brother,  |ohn  C.  Bowers.  Mrs.  Bowers  was  a  sister 
of  Joseph  Turpin.  Brother  and  sister  inherited  $35,000  each  from 
their  parents.  1  also  met  her  sister-in-law,  Airs.  Sarah  Bell. 

1  called  at  the  grammar  school  on  West  Lombard  street,  and  had 
a  pleasant  visit  with  Miss  Caroline  La  Count.  I  entertain  great 
respect  and  admiration  for  this  lady,  because  of  her  unswerving 
devotion  to  the  memory  of  the  martyr,  (.).  V.  Catto.  At  the  time 
Catto  was  brutally  shot  to  death  on  South  street  because  of  his  anti- 
slavery  sentiments  and  utterances,  Miss  LaCount  was  his  fiancee. 
Since  that  tragic  event  she  has  devoted  her  time  and  study  to  educa 
tional  pursuits. 

I  did  not  meet  either  I.  C.  Wears  or  George  \V.  Bordley.  Both 
have  gone  to  the  sweet  bye-and-bye  since  I  was  in  Philadelphia. 

Miss  Mamie  Bordley  is  stewardess  of  the  Corinthian  Boat  Club,  at 
Essington,  on  the  Delaware  river.  She  is  the  only  woman  that  1 
know  holding  such  a  position. 

I  reached  the  Quaker  City  on  the  eighteenth  of  June,  and  left  on 
the  twenty-second.  I  dropped  into  the  Walton  Hotel  every  night 
and  morning,  and  looked  over  the  crowd  and  enjoyed  the  sights 
presented.  The  southern  contingent  was  ever  present  as  usual, 
but  was  much  subdued.  I  met  Lieutenant-Governor  Pinchback, 
looking  as  well  as  I  have  ever  seen  him.  Major  John  R.  Lynch 
showed  the  wear  and  tear  he  underwent  during  the  American-Span 
ish  war.  He  grasped  my  hand,  and  I  felt  the  hearty  pressure  of  an 
honest  man.  I  saw  Hon.  James  Hill,  of  Mississippi.  He  did  not 
appear  to  be  comfortable.  Something  weighed  heavy  upon  the 
Mississippian  mind.  E.  E.  Cooper  was  in  splendid  trim.  He  is  the 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  l\J 

editor  of  the  "  Colored  American,"  Washington,  which  is  doing- 
splendid  work  all  over  the  country  for  his  race.  T.  Thomas  For 
tune,  my  old  New  York  friend,  editor  of  the  "  New  York  Age,"  an 
all-around  newspaper  man,  was  on  hand,  looking  sad,  evidently 
thinking  about  what  he  had  written  about  McKinley  and  Roosevelt. 
Tim  is  a  good  fellow  and  ought  to  have  been  born  North. 

II.  C.  C.  Attwood  looked  disappointed.  W.  Calvin  Chase,  of  irre 
pressible  "  Washington  Bee,"  was  the  happiest  representative  I 
struck.  He  had  won  out  in  his  fight  for  representative  from  the  D. 
of  C.  Hon.  J.  C.  Dancy  wore  a  troubled  look.  If  the  Negroes  in 
North  Carolina  had  listened  to  and  followed  his  wise  counsel,  the 
discriminating  law  in  that  State  would  not  have  been  adopted.  I  was 
disappointed  in  not  meeting  Hon.  Daniel  Murray,  Assistant  Librarian 
of  Congress,  the  prospective  Negro  bibliographer,  but  I  did  not. 
Met  main-  other  Xegro  American  statesmen.  I  have  attended  many 
national  conventions,  but  I  must  confess  that  I  never  seen  more 
subdued  politicians  than  I  saw  in  the  Quaker  City.  They  acted  with 
more  discretion  and  better  judgment  than  on  former  occasions.  It 
struck  me  that  the  southern  brethren  are  realizing  the  fact  that  they 
are  not  the  whole  thing.  They  are  losing  their  votes  South,  and, 
with  that,  their  influence.  The  Afro-Americans  must  learn  to  know 
that  they,  like  all  other  races,  must  be  the  architects  of  their  devel 
opment,  that  they  can  lift  themselves  up  to  and  upon  the  highest 
level  of  human  development  and  political  fellowship,  through  educa 
tion,  industry  and  experience.  The  southern  colored  statesmen  are 
realizing  that  for  them  to  win  in  the  political  swim,  they  must  cross 
the  bridge,  when  reached,  on  the  tracks  with  the  northern 
contingent. 

As  the  column  of  the  Unconditional  Club  passed  up  Chestnut 
street,  whilst  we  were  moving  at  quick  step,  under  the  inspiration 
of  the  splendid  marching  music  of  Prof.  Robinson's  band,  and  just 
opposite  Independence  Hall,  the  grand  old  Liberty  bell  pealed  out 
eleven  strokes.  The  sound  of  that  historic  bell  brought  vividly  to 
my  mind  recollections  of  scenes  that  were  enacted  under  its  clarion 
notification  of  passing  time,  thirty-nine  years  ago.  It  impressed 
me  with  feelings  of  wonderment  and  joy,  the  evidence  of  the  change 
that  had  been  wrought,  the  improvements  in  sentiments  and  action 
in  the  Quaker  City,  under  the  amended  Constitution  and  just  laws 
of  our  country,  called  to  my  mind  the  scenes  so  terrible  and  impres 
sive  which  I  witnessed  and  was  a  party  to  through  three  long 
eventful  days,  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  during  the  prog 
ress  of  a  mockerv  trial  of  the  alleged  fugitive,  Daniel  Webster,  it 


Il8  AUTOr.TOGRAPTlY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    TTKNRY    JOHNSON. 

was  held  in  the  I  nited  States  C'ourt  room,  located  in  Independence 
Hall,  under  the  sound  of  the  Liberty  bell.  David  Paul  Brown,  a 
degenerate  son  of  a  man  of  the  same  name,  one  of  the  most  gifted, 
able  and  consistent  anti-slavery  advocates,  was  commissioner,  and 
sitting'  in  judgment  over  the  fate  of  the  Negro,  Webster,  who  had 
been  arrested  at  Jlarrisburg,  Pa.,  charged,  under  the  accursed  fugi 
tive  slave  law,  of  being  a  runaway,  lie  was  unjustly  found  guilty 
and  turned  over  to  the  slave  master.  It  was  during  these  three 
eventful  davs,  ending  Wednesday  afternoon,  that  thousands  of  indig 
nant  anti-slavery  people  gathered  about  Independence  Hall,  with  a 
firm  disposition  to  oppose  with  force  the  attempt  of  government 
officials  to  accomplish  their  unrighteous  and  devilish  work. 

In  that  city  at  that  time  a  well-organized  vigilance  committee  was 
in  existence.  It  was  a  secret  organization,  but  was  known  as  the 
Proscribed  American  Council.  I  remember  the  sound  of  the  old 
bell  when  it  struck  the  hour  of  five  o'clock.  It  was  just  two  weeks 
later  than  the  day  when  John  Brown's  dead  body  passed  through,  en 
route  for  its  last  resting  place  at  A I  alb  v,  Essex  county,  this  State. 

The  United  States  marshal  had  secretly  enrolled  about  two  thou 
sand  rough  and  desperate  toughs  to  assist  in  the  transportation  of 
the  unfortunate  Xegro.  Webster,  and  used  them  to  advantage  at  the 
critical  moment:  not  anyone,  living  or  dead,  ever  witnessed  a  more 
desperate  effort  at  rescue  than  was  made  that  day  by  members  of 
the  Council,  but  it  failed. 

The  street  fight  was  short,  sharp  and  bitter  whilst  it  lasted;  many 
heads  were  broken  and  limbs  dislocated.  Happily,  no  lives  were 
lost.  The  government  was  too  much  for  us.  We  were  beaten, 
and  nine  arrests  were  made.  The  accused  were  locked  up  in  the 
cells  located  under  Independence  Hall,  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Chestnut  streets,  accused  of  opposing  the  fugitive  slave  law: 
Jeremiah  Buck  and  Sinclair  Burleigh,  two  of  the  foremost  and 
bravest  Negroes  who  ever  walked  the  earth,  and  who  were  always 
ready  to  risk  their  lives  in  efforts  to  strike  down  the  accursed  sys 
tem  of  chattel  slavery:  a  Mr.  White,  with  six  others,  including 
myself.  Air.  White,  who  was  at  that  time  running  a  crockery  and 
china  store  on  South  street,  and  I  made  our  escape  that  evening 
through  the  assistance  of  what  has  wrongfully  been  denominated  a 
mob.  It  was,  in  my  judgment,  a  rescuing  party  of  white  and  black 
patriots.  We  managed  to  leave  the  State  for  our  personal  safety.  I 
went  East,  and  located  at  Norwich,  Conn.  Buck,  Burleigh  and  their 
five  remaining  comrades  were  held,  tried,  convicted  and  sentenced  to 
five  vears  in  the  Cherrv  .11  ill  penitentiary.  When  their  trials 


TIMOTHY   L.  WOODRl.'FF. 
Ucuteuaiit-Govcrnor, 


ADMIRAL  DEWEY 
AND  THK  BIRTH  OF  THE  AMEKICAN  FLAG. 


HON.  J.  A.  KOSS, 
Buffalo,  X  Y. 


<;EN.  DANIEL  E.  SICKELS. 
A  Hero  of  (Jottysburg. 


THE  LATIi  Dr..  THOMAS    ELK  INS. 


OF  DR.  WILLIAM  HENRY  JOHNSON.        123 

were  over,  Mr.  \Yliite  unwittingly  returned  to  the  citv.  lie,  too, 
was  apprehended,  tried  and  convicted,  and  also  sent  to  prison. 

(  )ne  of  the  very  first  acts  performed  by  President  Lincoln,  after 
the  Rebellion  was  well  on,  was  the  granting  of  a  full  and  unqualified 
pardon  to  them  all.  The  contrast  between  that  dark  and  benighted 
epoch  and  the  improved  condition  of  my  race  to-day;  the  sound  of 
old  Liberty  bell  thirty-nine  years  ago  and  that  to-day,  when 
in  the  ranks  of  the  old  Unconditional  Club,  the  pride  of 
Albany,  as  we  swung  proudly  by  Libert}'  Hall,  amid  th<; 
shouts  of  applause,  of  welcome  from  the  gathered  thousands 
that  lined  the  route  from  start  to  finish,  awakened  sentiments 
of  the  most  grateful  and  profound  thanksgivings  to  Almighty 
<  iod  for  the  providential  liberation  from  slavcrv,  and  the  investure 
of  my  people  with  equal  rights  and  the  disposition  to  help  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  integrity  of  our  country's  escutcheon. 

After  remaining  in  hiding  at  Philadelphia  for  about  three  weeks. 
one  night  I  was  driven  to  Tacony,  and  boarded  a  night  train,  bound 
for  Xew  York  citv.  My  ticket  called  for  a  "  I>  "  car,  which  L 
entered,  and  took  a  seat.  \Yhen  the  conductor  came  along  he 
looked  at  me,  and  then  the  ticket,  and  then  demanded  to  know 
how  1  obtained  a  ticket  to  sit  in  a  white  man's  car.  1  replied  that  it 
was  none  of  his  business.  I  Jut,  he  said  that  it  was,  and  ordered  me 
to  go  forward  to  the  car  set  apart  for  Xegroes,  commonly  called, 
the  "Jim  Crow"  car.  This,  T  positively  refused  to  do.  He  then 
informed  me  lhat  at  the  next  stopping  station  he  would  throw  me 
off  the  car.  In  the  same  car  there  were  quite  a  number  of  white 
gentlemen,  and  I  was  the  only  Xegro  in  it.  and  matters  looked  to  me 
as  if  they  were  a  little  serious.  A  gentleman  sitting  immediately 
behind  me  touched  my  shoulder,  and  when  1  turned  towards  him, 
he  asked  me  where  I  was  born.  I  told  him,  at  Alexander,  Ya.  He 
said:  "  I  thought  you  were  a  southern  boy  by  your  actions."  Then, 
he  said:  "  Let  me  see  your  ticket."  I  did  as  requested.  Then  he 
said:  Yrou  are  not  a  runaway  slave?"  T  assured  him  that  I  was 
free-born,  and  had  resided  in  the  North  for  a  number  of  years. 
"  AYcll."  said  he,  >%  do  you  mean  to  resist  being  thrown  off  this  car?  " 
T  told  him  that  "  I  certainly  would,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  and 
that  f  knew  1  was  alone,  but  would  hold  my  ground  as  long  as  I 
could." 

"  Oh.  no."  said  he,  "  you  are  not  alone.  You  have  just  as  much 
right  in  this  car  as  I  have.  Take  this  and  defend  yourself."  He 
then  handed  me  a  "six-shooter,"  and  reclined  back  in  his  seat 
again.  fust  as  the  train  slowed  up.  the  conductor  and  two  train- 


124  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    TTENRY    JOHNSON. 

men  advanced  toward  me,  and  the  conductor  ordered  the  trainmen 
to  throw  the  "  d  • —  n  "  nigger  off  the  train.  But,  as  they  came  to  me, 
they  looked  into  the  muzzle  of  my  "  six-shooter."  I  informed  them 
that  "  I  was  in  that  car  to  stay,"  and  suggested  that  they  had  bettcr 
let  the  job  out  to  the  conductor.  This  sally  of  mine  brought  a 
decided  manifestation  of  approbation  from  the  other  passengers. 

The  conductor  and  trainmen  both  retreated,  and  I  was  no  further 
molested.  Upon  a-rriving  at  South  Amboy,  X.  J.,  I  boarded  the 
ferry-boat  for  Xew  York  city.  The  first  man  that  1  met  on  the 
boat  was  my  old  companion,  who  escaped  with  me  from  the  cell 
three  weeks  before.  He  had  ridden  on  the  same  train,  but  was  in 
the  "  Jim  Crow  car."  He  greeted  me,  half  reproaching,  and 
eluded  me  for  getting  in  his  way  when  both  of  us  slipped  out  of  the 
cell  together.  He  said  that  the  turnkey  did  not  intend  to  let  me 
out,  as  the  turnkey  was  a  Free  Mason,  and  so  was  he.  That 
explained  to  me  the  situation.  L  was  not  a  Free  Mason,  but 
resolved  to  become  one  just  as  soon  as  I  could.  Though  unwit 
tingly  I  had  been  saved  from  State's  prison  by  another  man's 
knowledge  of  the  mystic  symbols,  and  saved  that  night  from  being 
thrown  off  the  "  B  "  car  by  a  white  southerner,  a  slave-holder, 
because  I  demonstrated  a  disposition  to  take  care  of  myself.  The 
gentleman  that  handed  me  the  revolver  informed  me  that  he,  too, 
was  a  Virginian,  and  that  he  would  liked  to  have  seen  me  blow  holes 
all  through  the  d  —  -  northern  "  mud-sill." 

WILLIAM    H.   JOHNSON, 

For  the  Albany  Capitol. 
July  4th,  1900. 


The  ocean  trip  of  the  Unconditional  Club  on  the  beautiful  sound 
steamer  Shinnecock  was  delightful.  It  could  not  have  been  bet 
ter.  We  left  here  at  6:30  p.  M.,  Sunday,  June  seventeenth,  and 
arrived  there  at  ten  P.  M.,  Monday,  in  time  to  be  in  at  the  nomina 
tion  of  McKinley  and  Roosevelt. 

The  Shinnecock  is  a  great  and  safe  seagoing  boat,  and  she  carries 
a  most  pleasant  and  accommodating  crew.  They  were  all  pinks  of 
politeness,  from  the  skipper,  Captain  Mitchell,  to  the  humble  coal 
heaver. 

A  jollier  and  well-behaved  lot  of  Albany's  representatives  never 
floated  on  the  bosom  of  old  Neptune.  There  was  William  Barnes, 
Jr.,  the  honored  and  accepted  leader  of  Albany  county  Republicans 
and  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Executive  Committee.  Mr. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HKNRY    JOHNSON.  125 

J>arnes  is  following  close  in  the  footprints  of  his  illustrious  grand 
father,  the  late  Thm-low  Weed.  Hon.  George  X.  Sonthwiek  was 
l)v  his  side  most  all  the  time,  as  was  also  Commissioner  Ham;  the 
little  corporal,  the  ever-pleasant  James  \Y.  J>entley,  with  his  dry 
perfeeto  between  his  lips,  meditating  and  devising  plans  looking  to 
the  defeat  of  the  Democratic  party  this  fall.  Judge  George  Adding- 
ton,  supreme  in  command  of  the  club,  with  his  able  and  courteous 
staff  officers,  Messrs.  Frwin,  Mix,  Frost,  McClelland  and  Will 
hrcnnan,  were  untiring  in  efforts  to  accommodate  and  entertain 
quests. 


In  1857,  with  others,  1  was  engaged  in  the  performance  of  a  verv 
disagreeable  duty.  It  was  the  expulsion  from  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  of  a  Negro,  who  claimed  to  be  a  gentleman;  he  was 
a  slave-holder,  and  while  visiting  that  city  made  his  home  with 
William  Still,  on  South  street,  below  Ninth  street.  It  came  about 
in  this  way:  Joseph  Yenning  then  kept  a  cigar  store  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street,  above  Ninth.  His  parents  occupied  the  residence 
portion  of  the  house.  Many  young  fellows  of  my  acquaintance 
made  Mr.  Yenning's  store  a  place  of  rendezvous.  Among  our 
latest  associates  was  a  young  man  that  we  would  readily  have  taken 
for  being  white  had  we  not  also  have  met  his  mother.  She  was  a 
bright  mulatto.  This  young  fellow's  name  was  George  Steel.  We 
saw  him  for  the  last  time  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  preceding  the 
incident  that  followed.  C  )n  Monday  he  was  missing.  His  mother 
was  in  trouble.  On  Tuesday  morning  the  secret,  of  her  tribulation 
was  unfolded.  She,  as  well  as  her  son,  were  escaped  slaves  from 
South  Carolina.  The  son  had  left  the  city  Sunday  evening  hastilv; 
his  mother  on  Monday  morning.  Steel  was  a  waiter  at  the  Conti 
nental  Hotel,  Ninth  and  Chestnut  streets.  It  soon  developed  that 
their  master  was  in  the  city,  with  officers,  looking  for  their  apprehen 
sion,  and  that  John  Francis,  also  of  Charleston,  had  been  in  secret 
conference  with  the  master,  and  had  imparted  the  information  of 
the  whereabouts  of  the  mother  and  son.  When  these  facts  became 
public,  the  indignation  of  the  colored  people  knew  no  bounds.  A 
mass  meeting  was  held  the  next  evening  on  Sixth  street,  near  Lom 
bard,  in  front  of  George  W.  Gomes'  store.  Mr.  Goines  was  chosen 
as  chairman  and  Thomas  Shonock  as  secretary.  Many  speeches 
were  made  and  condemnatory  resolutions  adopted.  A  committee 
of  three  was  appointed  to  see  that  Francis  left  the  city  or  took  the 
consequences  of  staying.  The  committee  consisted  of  George  F. 


ij6  AUTOJ'.IOGRAl'nV    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

Stevens,  Parker  T.  Smith  and  the  writer  of  this.  Backed  up  bv 
the  indignant  people,  we  immediately  repaired  to  Still's  house.  We 
were  met  at  the  door  by  him.  He  expressed  great  indignation  of 
the  action  taken  at  the  meeting,  and  declared  his  intention  to  defend 
to  the  bitter  end  his  boarder  and  the  sanctity  of  his  domicile.  This 
did  not  amount  to  much;  he  was  pushed  to  one  side,  and  the  com 
mittee  entered  the  house  and  Francis'  room,  confronted  the  base 
informer  with  the  action  of  the  meeting,  which  demanded  his  imme 
diate  expulsion  from  the  house  and  city,  lie  attempted  to  make  a 
defense,  but,  upon  looking  out  of  the  front  window,  and  realizing 
the  hostile  attitude  of  the  indignant  and  venturesome  citizens  gath 
ered  in  the  street,  agreed,  if  safe  conduct  was  guaranteed  him 
across  Gay's  ferry  bridge,  that  he  would  leave  the  citv  before  (lav- 
light.  He  evidently  felt  that  his  life  was  in  danger  if  he  attempted 
to  stay.  This  was  agreed  to.  The  crowd  was  informed,  and  imme 
diately  dispersed,  and  Francis  was  well  on  his  way  South  before  the 
sun  rose  on  Wednesday  morning.  He  never  was  known  to  return 
to  the  good  old  Quaker  City. 

In  like  manner,  the  anti-slavery  people  were  in  the  habit  of  treat 
ing  such  enemies  to  humanitv  during  the  days  of  Robert  Purvis. 
Stephen  Smith.  Capt.  Joe  Anderson,  Count  1).  Cliff,  Catto,  Turner, 
Colley,  Revels,  Simpson,  Buck,  Burleigh.  Basil  (ioines,  and  men  of 
their  stamp. 

The  trip  to  Philadelphia  was,  as  has  been  said  before, 
exceedingly  pleasant  to  me  in  many  respects,  and  equallv 
painful  and  distressing  in  others.  Among  the  reminiscences 
that  brought  tears  to  my  eyes,  and  sorrow  to  my  heart,  was  the  vivid 
recollection  of  terrible  events  that  I  had  witnessed,  and  was  a  party 
to,  either  directly  or  indirectly.  I  remember  the  riots,  the  burning 
and  pillaging  of  churches,  schoolhouses,  and  the  murdering  of  inof 
fensive  Xegroes,  just  because  they  were  such.  1  remember  the 
burning  of  the  old  .Bethel  church,  at  Sixth  and  Lombard  streets,  and 
the  California  House,  at  Sixth  and  St.  Mary's  streets;  the  murder  of 
the  brave  young  Wainwright  (white),  of  the  city  lire  department, 
who  was  shot  to  death  whilst  performing  his  duty  with  the  Goodwill 
fire  engine,  by  one  of  the  desperate  murderers  of  the  howling  mob; 
the  attempt  of  southern  students  to  break  up  the  mass  meeting  that 
was  being  held  in  the  National  Guard's  Hall,  on  upper  Market 
street,  on  the  day  that  the  heroic  John  Brown  was  judicially  mur 
dered  at  Charlestown,  Ya.  The  meeting  in  the  Xational  Guard's 
Hall  was  presided  over  by  Air.  Robert  Purves;  and  Miss  Lttcretia 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON'.  12/ 

Alott,  Theodore  Tilton,  J.  C.  White,  Sr.,  John  C.  Bowen,  Miller 
McKiin  and  others  were  seated  upon  the  platform. 

A  bitter  fight  ensued,  in  which,  however,  there  were  no  lives  lost; 
the  majesty  of  the  law  asserted  itself  and  the  rioters  were  over 
come.  But  the  most  painful  reminder  was  the  brutal  murder  of 
(  )ctavius  A'.  Catto  (principal  of  "  The  Institute  for  Colored  Youths  ") 
and  his  coadjutors,  Isaac  Chase  and  Jacob  Gordon,  on  the  loth  of 
(  )ctober,  1871,  in  the  election  riot  of  that  day.  Professor  Catto  and 
1  were  friends  and  companions.  He  was  a  brave,  good  Christian 
gentleman.  The  brutal  manner  of  his  sudden  death  aroused  the 
greatest  sorrow  and  indignation,  and  his  funeral  was  one  of  the 
largest  ever  seen  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia;  people  of  all  classes,  of 
both  races,  attended  it,  numbering  thousands. 

The  annexed  clipping,  containing  the  military  order  and  the 
mayor's  proclamation,  will  explain  themselves,  furnishing  the  best 
testimony  of  Philadelphia's  universal  respect  and  love  for  the  mur 
dered  citizen,  educator  and  soldier. 

HEADQUARTERS    "FIFTH     BRIGADE,     FIRST    Divisrox,     XATIOXAI, 
GUARD  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

PHILADELPHIA,  October  11,  1871. 

( ieneral  Order  Xo.  8.—  It  becomes  the  painful  duty  of  the 
Brigadier-General  to  announce  to  the  troops  of  this  command,  the 
death,  on  the  loth  inst.,  at  the  hands  of  a  cowardly  assassin,  of 
Major  (  )ctavius  Y.  Catto,  Inspector  Fifth  Brigade.  Major  Catto 
was  born  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  in  1839,  and  brought  to  this  city  by 
his  parents  when  a  mere  child.  He  was  educated  at  the  "  Institute 
for  Colored  Youth,"  where,  shortly  after  graduating,  he  became  a 
teacher  of  the  English  branches,  and  on  the  appointment  of  the 
principal  (Prof.  Bassett)  to  the  Haytien  mission,  he  was  appointed 
principal  of  the  institute.  In  this  position  his  energy,  integrity  and 
scholastic  attainments  won  for  him  the  universal  esteem  and  con 
fidence  of  the  managers  and  the  love  of  his  pupils.  He  was  an 
earnest  and  hard  worker  for  the  education  and  elevation  of  his  race, 
and  to  this  end  was  identified  with  this  brigade  from  its  organiza 
tion;  and  it  was  whilst  in  the  act  of  obeying  an  order  he  had  received 
as  a  soldier,  that  the  murderer  met  him.  Having  been  ordered  by 
the  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  the  brigade  to  notify  several 
officers  of  this  command  to  order  their  men  to  the  armories,  to  be 
ready  to  aid  in  the  suppression  of  a  riot  then  in  progress,  he  pro 
ceeded  home  to  obtain  his  equipments,  and,  whilst  upon  his  own 
doorstep,  was  ruthlessly  assaulted  with  a  bludgeon,  knocked  down, 


128          AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.     WILLIAM    11KXRY    JOHNSON'. 

and  finally  mortally  wounded  by  pistol  shots  through  the  heart,  in 
his  right  arm,  left  shoulder  and  left  thigh.  He  was  conveyed  to  the 
neighboring  police  station,  but  died  before  medical  assistance  could 
reach  him.  This  terminated  the  life  of  Major  Catto.  Conscientious 
and  faithful  as  an  officer,  he  labored  effectively  in  the  organization 
of  this  command,  and  fell  an  honored  and  respected  soldier  of  the 
commonwealth.  In  civil  life,  he  was  known  as  the  accomplished 
scholar  and  educator;  in  literary  circles  as  a  distinguished  linguist, 
whose  thorough  knowledge  of  languages  will  render  it  difficult  to 
fill  his  professor's  chair;  he  was  an  upright  Christian,  whose  piety 
was  lofty  and  sincere;  a  pure-minded  patriot,  who  served  his 
country  in  her  darkest  hour;  a  courteous  gentleman  and  valiant 
soldier  who  died  as  he  had  lived,  without  fear  and  without  reproach. 
The  body  will  lie  in  state  at  the  city  armory,  Broad  and  Race  streets, 
from  7  until  9  A.  M.,  Monday,  i6th  inst.  As  a  token  of  respect,  tin- 
officers  of  this  command  \vill  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning, 
and  the  colors  and  drums  will  be  draped  for  the  period  of  sixty  da  vs. 

The  gold  medal  to  be  awarded  under  the  provisions  of  (ieneral 
Orders  No.  6,  C.  S.,  from  these  headquarters,  will  hereafter  be 
known  as  the  "  Catto  Medal,"  and  will  be  so  inscribed. 

The  brigade  will  participate  in  the  funeral  ceremonies,  and  will 
form  on  Broad  street,  right  resting  on  Cherry  street,  facing  east  at 
9  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  Monday,  i6th  inst.,  and  move  in  columns  of  com 
panies,  by  breaking  from  the  left  to  inarch  to  the  right.  A  guard  of 
honor,  pall-bearers  and  a  tiring  party  will  be  detailed  in  future- 
orders. 

l>\   order  of  Brigadier-General   Louis  Wagner. 

|.   R.  Ml'LLIKIX, 
Ma /or  and  Assistant   /hljutcint-Gcnct'oL 


( )FFICK  OK  Tine  MAYOR  OF  THE  CITY  OF 

PillLADKLI'IIJA.    October    12,     1871. 

Whereas,  Octavius  V.  Catto,  whilst  in  the  act  of  leaving  his 
own  doorstep,  and  Isaac  Chase,  whilst  in  his  own  home,  both 
peaceable  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  were  brutally  murdered  on  the 
afternoon  of  Tuesday  last,  loth  inst.;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  alleged  that  two  men,  one  of  them  known  as 
"  Recldy  "  Dever,  the  other  called  Frank  Kelly,  were  implicated 
in  both  these  dreadful  crimes; 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HKKRY    JOIIXSOX.  1 2O, 

Xo\v,  therefore,  I.  Daniel  M.  Fox,  Mayor  of  Philadelphia,  do 
hereby  offer  a  reward  of  $1,000  for  the  arrest  and  delivery  of  each 
of  the  said  Dever  and  Kelly  to  me,  the  said  mayor,  at  my  office,  in 
said  city.  And  the  officers  of  the  police  and  the  citizens  generally 
are  enjoined  to  furnish  their  most  active  vigilance  and  aid  in 
securing  the  persons  of  the  two  parties  named,  in  order  that  they 
may  he  promptly  brought  to  the  bar  of  justice  to  answer  for  the 
dreadful  crimes  above  stated. 

Description. 

The  said  Dever  is  about  5  feet,  7  inches  high,   160  Ibs.  weight,  2^ 
years  of  age.  light  red  hair,  smooth  full  face,  rather  stout  built. 

'1  he  said  Kelly  is  about  5  fact  6  inches  high,  140  Ibs.  weight,  22 
\ears  of  age,  dark  hair,  medium  built,  lias  a  fresh  pistol  seal])  wound 
on  side  of  his  head,  hair  clipped  around  the  wound. 

DAXTEL  M.  F<  )X. 

Mayor  of  Philadelphia 

(Our  Xational  Progress.  Philadelphia,  Pa..  Saturdav  October  31. 
1 87  i . ) 

The  assassins  never  were  arrested,  but  the  memorv  of  (  ).  Y.  Catto 
lives. —  [\Ym.  II.  Johnson,  for  the  Albanv  Capitol.  Albanv,  August 
i ,  1 900. 


9 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     1IKXRV    JOHXSOX. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Tin-:  PHILADELPHIA  SEXTIXKL. 
(Saturday,  May   i,  1886.) 

A    \K.\RKR    YIHW. 

Sonic  Points  About  People  and  Things. 
(\\\  William  Carl  P>olivar.) 

The  opening  of  the  fifth  decade  of  this  century  marked  a  new  era 
in  tl;e  life  of  the  colored  people  of  this  country,  and  this  was  a  time, 
as  far  as  a  fixed  purpose  on  the  part  of  parents  was  concerned,  to 
raise  the  educational  standard,  in  view  ol  the  possibility  of  the 
enlarged  exercise  of  the  same,  which  a  prescience  told  them  would 
come  with  the  abolition  of  slavery,  and  its  sequence,  their  recogni 
tion  as  citizens. 

Some  parents  had  sent  their  children  to  Mc(  irawville,  Oberlin. 
Dartmouth,  McGill,  and  other  liberal  northern  institutions,  while 
others  availed  themselves  of  the  benefits  nearer  home,  made  possible 
by  the  philanthropy  of  the  Quaker  element  in  our  midst,  whose 
Institute  afforded  their  children  educational  means  far  superior  to 
anything  granted  by  the  city,  which  taxed  them  without  adequate 
return. 

These  lads  were  restless,  and  being  too  voung  to  become  mem 
bers  of  the  existing  literary  and  debating  societies,  started  one  on 
their  own  account,  which  was  full  of  good  work  for  twenty  years. 
Its  organization  took  place  September  (j,  1853,  at  the  house  of 
Redmond  Faucett,  who,  with  the  following,  were  its  founders: 
Davis  D.  Turner,  John  W.  Simpson,  Jacob  C.  White,  St.  George  1\. 
Taylor,  John  W.  Wright,  Joel  Selsey,  Robert  Turner,  George  P>. 
White,  Alexander  Randolph,  Peter  Bnrk,  Charles  Parker,  George 
E.  Stevens,  W.  IT.  Smith,  and  Jacob  I 'over,  who  was  its  first 
president. 

It  was  christened  the  Young  Men's  Mutual  Instruction  Society, 
the  name  having  been  suggested  by  Isaiah  C.  Wears,  which  was 
soon  after  changed  to  the  Alexandrian  Academy,  and  again 
rechristened  The  Hanneker  Institute,  which  it  bore  with  honor. 
dignity  and  profit,  until  its  discontinuation,  twenty  years  after. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    1IKXRV    JOIIXSOX.  1^1 

SATURDAY,  May  8,  1886. 

November,  1857,  found  among  its  new  members  the  names  of 
\Ym.  H.  Johnson  and  Samuel  X.  Cornish,  the  first  of  whom,  from 
the  very  start,  entered  into  the  work,  which  lie  kept  up  as  long  as 
he  was  a  member,  with  a  zeal  that  was  truly  infectious. 

An  important  episode  in  the  existence  of  the  Banneker  took 
place  in  1858.  A  congress  of  literary  societies  having  been  called, 
the  institute  elected  Jacob  C.  White,  Jr..  and  Win.  H.  Johnson  to 
represent  them.  The  Banneker  felt  that  they  possessed  all  the 
qualifications  necessary,  and,  ever  alive  to  the  promotion  of 
the  interests  of  the  race,  determined  to  make  the  venture  nolens 
'I'oicus. 

All  the  necessary  forms  were  complied  with,  which  resulted  in 
the  selection  of  John  E.  Newport,  of  the  Prescott  Literary  Institute; 
John  1).  Iluhn,  of  the  Philadelphia  Literary  Institute,  and  J.  G. 
Allen,  M.  D.,  of  the  Irving  Institute,  a  committee  to  examine  into 
the  merits  of  the  Banneker,  and  report  as  to  their  qualifications. 

(  )n  the  night  of  their  visit,  the  Banneker  was  holding  its  regular 
exercises,  with  no  thought  of  the  effect  it  would  produce  upon  the 
minds  of  the  visitors.  William  H.  Minton  read  a  paper  on  the 
"  Works  of  Nature, "  and  a  discussion  took  place  on  the  subject, 
"  lias  the  Course  of  Stephen  A.  Douglass,  on  the  Kansas-Xebraska 
(Question  Been  Consistent?"  Mr.  George  E.  Stevens  welcomed 
the  committee  in  a  clever  speech,  which  was  responded  to  by  Mr. 
|.  D.  Iluhn.  The}'  then  examined  the  minutes,  and  asked  for  a 
copy  of  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws,  which  were  freely  granted. 
So  far.  evervthing  worked  smoothly,  and  the  wisdom  of  Win.  II. 
Johnson,  in  urging  the  efforts  to  be  made,  was  seen,  even  by  those 
who  first  opposed  the  measure. 

The  congress  met  at  Ninth  and  Spring  Garden  streets.  May  5, 
1858,  where  a  motion  to  admit  the  Banneker  brought  about  ani 
mated  discussion,  supported  by  Messrs.  Dunn,  of  the  St.  Johns; 
Thompson,  of  the  Ciceronian;  Cornman,  of  the  Adelphian;  New 
port,  of  the  Prescott,  and  Allen,  of  the  Irving. 

The  negative  argument  was  made  by  Messrs.  Campbell,  of  the 
St.  John's;  Conrad,  of  the  Prescott;  Archer,  of  the  Adelphian.  and 
others;  in  fact,  eleven  speeches  were  made  in  favor,  and  ten  against 
the  admission  of  the  Banneker  Institute. 

To  quote  from  the  records:  "'On  the  vote  being  taken,  thirteen 
ayes,  and  eleven  nays.  The  vote  was  subsequently  reconsidered, 
and  resulted  in  twelve  ayes  to  twelve  nays.  The  Institute  was 
rejected,  a  two-thirds  vote  being  necessary  to  admit." 


132  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    ()K    DR.    WILLIAM    HKXKY    JOHXS<>X. 

Most  of  the  societies  in  the  congress  had  been  instructed  to  vote 
against  the  admission  of  colored  organizations  of  a  like  sort,  which 
evidently  shows  that  they  must  have  expected  just  such  action  on 
the  part  of  the  Hanneker,  or  some  similar  body  of  colored  men. 

Several  bodies,  as  corporate  bodies,  were  favorable,  and  in  mam 
cases,  individuals  in  others  favored  the  admission  of  the  IJanneker. 
They  all  agreed  that  the  institution  was  a  bona  fide  literary  society, 
and  was  as  able  a  body,  if  not  abler,  than  any  represented  in  the 
congress.  And  yet  they  were  excluded.  So  much  for  caste 
prejudice. 

The  year  1858  was  a  marked  one  in  the  annals  of  the  lianneker, 
as  may  be  noted  in  the  points  chronicled  in  the  "  nearer  view  "  of 
their  affairs,  as  contained  in  the  paper  preceding  this.  The  remain 
ing  important  incidents  now  follow  in  sequential  order,  and  they  are 
so  breezy  and  vital  as  to  be  worth  a  place  in  these  notes,  without 
am*  extraneous  comments  from  the  writer. 

On  the  first  of  June,  1858,  there  was  a  convention  held,  or  rather 
a  council,  for  the  moral,  mental,  social  and  political  elevation  of 
proscribed  Americans,  to  which  J.  C.  White,  John  \Y.  Simpson  and 
Parker  T.  Smith  were  elected  to  represent  the  I>anneker  Institute. 
About  that  time  J.  P.  P>.  Eddy,  Jr.,  and  Alfred  S.  Cassey  were 
elected  to  membership. 

At  the  Fourth  of  July  celebration,  which  was  held  at  Franklin 
Hall,  Jacob  C.  White,  Jr.,  presided  and  made  a  neat  speech.  After 
him  came  the  orator  of  the  (lav,  \\ni.  II.  Johnson,  who  delivered 
a  long  and  able  address  in  support  of  the  stand  the  Hanneker  took 
in  the  matter.  The  paper  was  so  full  of  fine  thought  that  it  was 
published  in  pamphlet  form,  and  found  a  wide  circle  of  readers. 

The  argument  adduced  by  Mr.  Johnson  to  show  why  thev  cele 
brated  the  Fourth  of  July  was  based  on  that  clause  of  the  Declara 
tion  of  Independence  which  says:  "All  men  are  created  free  and 
equal,  and  endowed  with  certain  inalienable  rights,  among  which 
are  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness."  Even  if  a  dead-letter, 
the  fact  of  the  avowal  remained,  and  it  was  thus  they  gloried  in  the 
annual  return  of  the  day. 

This  celebration  was  conspicuous,  not  only  by  reason  of  the  able 
oration  of  Win.  H.  Johnson,  the  addresses  of  the  other  speakers, 
and  the  large  and  encouraging  audience,  but  on  account  of  a 
parody  on  the  "  Red,  White  and  Blue,"  written  by  Miss  Charlotte 
L.  Fortin,  and  sung  by  the  members  of  the  Institute,  and  the  gen 
eral  crowd,  as  well. 

The  officers  for  that  year  were:  J.  W.  Simpson,  president;  Wrn. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  133 

H.  Johnson,  vice-president;  Jacob  C.  White,  Jr.,  recording  secre 
tary;  O.  V.  Catto,  corresponding  secretary;  Joel  Sclsey,  treasurer, 
and  R.  M.  Turner,  librarian.  About  this  time  William  T.  Jones 
and  Joseph  \\".  Brister  were  elected  to  membership  in  the  Institute. 
The  Fourth  of  July  and  the  first  of  August  celebrations  were,  as 
customary,  made  matters  of  public  interest  by  the  Banneker. 


SATURDAY,  May  22,  1886. 

During  iSoi  everything  was  in  a  chaotic  state,  owing  to  the  \Yar 
of  the  Rebellion,  and,  per  consequence,  the  activity  of  the  Institute 
was  not  as  great  as  in  the  preceding  years.  Several  of  the  members 
were  with  the  army,  and  others  had  left  the  city  to  try  their  fortunes 
elsewhere,  among  them  Parker  T.  Smith,  Win.  II.  Johnson  and 
George  K.  Stevens.  During  that  year  William  Parham,  of  Cincin 
nati,  and  Klwood  A  I.  Thomas,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  were  elected 
c< ^'responding  members. 


AlJ'.AXY     KVEXIXO    JoTkXAL. 

(Monday  Kvening,  March  12,  10,00.) 

A  DINNER  AND   A   PRESENTATION'. 

Thomas  II.  Diggs  entertained  the  members  of  the  I  lome  Social 
Club  at  dinner  yesterday  afternoon  at  the  Adams  House  on  Broad 
way  in  honor  of  the  sixty-seventh  birthday  of  Dr.  William  H.  John 
son,  the  founder  and  first  president  of  the  club  which  was  organized 
in  1887.  After  all  the  good  things  had  been  partaken  of,  Yice-Presi- 
dent  I.  W.  Price  arose  and  on  behalf  of  the  club  presented  Dr. 
Johnson  with  a  handsome  silk  badge,  with  gold  and  silver  orna 
ments.  In  the  center  of  the  badge  is  a  silver  horseshoe  with  the 
monogram  "  II.  C.  S."  in  the  center  and  the  words  ''  Secretary  v  on 
the  horseshoe,  the  position  Dr.  Johnson  now  holds. 

Dr.  Johnson  responded  in  his  usual  style,  thanking  the  members 
for  their  gift.  Cigars  were  then  passed  around  and  the  remainder 
of  the  day  spent  in  story  telling. 


THE  HOME  SOCIAL  CLUB. 

Members. 

George  H.  Tumme,  president;  Joseph  Wr.   Price,  vice-president; 
William  H.  Brent,  treasurer;  William  H.  Johnson,  secretary;  John 


1^4        Ai'Ton  IOC.KAFMI  Y   OF   nu.   WILLIAM    HK.VUY   joirxsox. 

P.  Price,  A.  C.  Green,  R.  R.  P>urrell,  J.  II.  Clifton,  I 'Yank  Pulton, 
Wm.  IP  \'an  Alstyne,  A.  ('.  (iordon,  R.  M.  Madison,  |.  P.  lU-rrv, 
Thomas  IP  I  )iggs. 

'I  lie4   constitution    ol    this    social    club    limits    the-    membership    to 
fourteen. 


.  //>/•//  3,  i  Si)  i . 
\Y.M.  IP  JOHNSON,  J UHIII \\  X.  Y.: 

DL. \R  BROTHKR. —  1  write  this  to  congratulate1  von  upon  the 
news  just  received  of  the  passage  and  the  signing  of  vuur  insurance 
law  in  your  State.  My  wife  and  Mamie  joins  me  in  love  to  yon. 

GEORGP  \Y.   BORDLY. 
21  14  Samson  St.,   Philadelphia.  Pa. 


The  thirty-third  annual  session  of  the  Sons  and  Dnughters  of 
Moses  convened  in  the  city  of  Albanv.  X.  Y.,  (  )ctober  16.  1900,  at 
Mleecker  Hall.  Hon.  James  H.  Blessing,  Mayor,  made  the  welcome 
address  in  behalf  of  the  city,  and  was  responded  to  bv  Messrs. 
Joseph  P.  Smith,  of  Troy,  X.  Y'.,  and  John  A.  Kelly,  of  Xew  York. 
During  the  open  session  Dr.  William  H.  Johnson  attempted  to 
enter  the  hall.  Owing  to  a  mistaken  order  the  sentinel  refused  to 
admit  him.  When  the  facts  became  known  to  the  proper  officers 
amends  were  speedily  determined  to  be  made  to  the  doctor,  and 
Brother  John  S.  Johnson,  of  Albany,  was  appointed  a  committee  of 
one  to  invite  Dr.  Johnson  to  attend  the  noon  session  of  the  encamp 
ment  on  the  17th,  to  secure  an  explanation  to  the  unfortunate 
incident.  At  1 1 115  A.  M.,  the  two  Johnsons  were  escorted  to  the  plat 
form  and  the  Grand  Master  Solomon  Bond,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  satis 
factorily  explained  to  Dr.  Johnson,  in  feeling  and  touching  terms, 
the  regret  of  the  encampment  for  the  incident,  and  assured  him  that 
it  was  no  intention  on  the  part  of  any  of  the  encampment  to  dis 
criminate  against  him  and  desired  that  he  accept  the  apology  of  the 
encampment  for  the  same.  Dr.  Johnson,  in  reply,  stated  that  he 
could  not  accept  an  apology  from  the  encampment  for  this  unim 
portant  incident  as  he  had  never  for  a  moment  held  the  organization 
responsible  for  the  unfortunate  error  of  the  sentinel.  He  further 
stated  that  he  was  glad  that  the  same  had  occurred,  as  it  gave  him 
an  opportunity  to  meet  the  brothers  and  sisters  who  are  engaged  in 
the  noble  work  of  benevolence  and  Christian  charity,  and  that  he 
regretted  that  in  the  formation  of  the  tabernacle  in  this  the  finest 
city  on  the  continent,  he  had  not  became  an  active  member,  and  as 


HON.  -JOHN   IU)YD  THACI1EK. 


•JOHN  (iKAHAM, 
>jil  Teleirraph  and  Stock  Company,  Albany, 'N.  Y. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.  137 

the  Lord  had  spared  him  so  long  for  either  good  or  ill,  he  had  passed 
the  age  limit,  hut  that  his  efforts  would  tend  in  future  to  aid  in 
spreading  its  borders.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  tendered  him  bv  the  encampment  for  his  wholesome  and 
instructive  remarks.  During  the  singing  of  a  hymn  an  informal 
reception  was  tendered  him  at  which  time  he  shook  the  hand  of  all 
the  brothers  and  sisters  assembled,  who  bid  him  God  speed  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  labors  in  defense  of  his  race.  Thus  was  ended 
in  the  most  t'riendlv  feeling  an  unintentional  error. 

JOSFP1I    I'.  SMITH, 

(irand  Recording  Sccrclury. 


COXCFKT  AND  RFCFI'TIOX  Gi\  KX   r,v  TIIK  R.  \Y.  G.   ENCAMPMENT, 
ORDHR  OF  MOSES,  LAST  XKIIIT. 

A  grand  concert  and  reception  was  given  by  the  1\.  \\  .  ( i. 
Encampment  of  the  Order  of  Moses  at  IHeecker  hall  last  evening. 
So  far  as  the  dance  was  a  part  of  the  night's  revelry,  it  was  a  most 
brilliant  affair.  The  concert  was  participated  in  by  A I  me.  Dill, 
formerly  leading  lady  in  the  "  Trip  to  Coontown  "  company,  Miss 
Delia  A.  Hunter,  of  Troy:  Miss  L.  Fennan  and  Mrs.  K.  C.  Gardner, 
of  this  city;  and  Miss  Lilian  P>each,  Miss  Mamie  Dorsey,  Miss  Ida 
Lpps,  Mrs.  Ada  J.  Harder  and  Mr.  John  H.  Mead,  of  Troy. 
Luncheon  was  served  and  the  dance  held  open  after  midnight.  The 
following  committees  had  charge:  Auxiliary  committee.  John  S. 
[ohnson.  chairman:  Anna  E.  Taylor,  vice  chairman;  Carrie  K. 
( Jardner,  secretary;  Lewis  L.  Latham,  assistant  secretary;  Henry 
Pinckney,  treasurer;  C.  L.  Me  Dougall,  assistant  treasurer.  Recep 
tion  committee.  Joseph  P.  Smith,  chairman;  Henry  Pinckney.  assist 
ant  chairman;  F.  Frisbee,  L.  K.  Latham,  \Y.  H.  lirent.  Refresh 
ment  committee,  Mary  S.  Franklin,  chairman;  Josephine  Freman, 
assistant  chairman,  of  Albany;  Mary  Mundon.  chairman,  of  Troy; 
Annie  F.  Taylor,  assistant  chairman,  of  Troy;  Rachael  Hardy,  of 
Albany,  secretary;  Charlotte  May,  Treasurer. —  [Press  Knicker 
bocker.  Albany.  Friday,  October  K;,  10,00. 


BLEECKER  HALL,  ALBANY,  X.  Y., 

FRIDAY,  October  19,   1900. 

At  the  regular  Grand  Encampment  of  the  A.  U.  ( ).  S  and  D.  P>.  S. 
of  Moses,  officers  were  elected  for  the  next  two  (2)  years,  per  con- 


13$  A!TT()niOr,RAPJJY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON. 

stitntion,  as  follows:  Grand  Master,  Brother  Solomon  Bond,  Balti 
more,  M.  D.;  Deputy  Grand  Master,  Brother  E.  W.  Hamilton,  New 
York  city;  Grand  Vice,  Sister  Anna  E.  Howell,  Washington,  D.  C; 
Past  (irand  Vice,  Sister  M.  Coulens,  New  York  city;  Grand  Hi^-h 

J    *  o 

Priest,  Brother  George  Epps,  Newark,  X.  J. ;  Grand  Marshall, 
Brother  I).  E.  Latham,  Troy,  N.  Y.;  Grand  Orator,  Brother  John 
Kelley,  New  York  city;  Grand  Treasurer,  Brother  John  Henderson, 
Baltimore,  Md.:  Grand  Financial  Secretary,  Brother  James  M. 
Seward,  Baltimore,  Md.;  Grand  Recording  Secretary,  Brother 
Joseph  P.  Smith,  Troy,  N.  Y. ;  Inside  Sentinel,  Brother  N.  Colens, 
Xew  York  city;  Outside  Sentinel,  Brother  H.  Matthews,  Philadel 
phia,  Pa.;  Right  Hand  Support,  Sister  Mary  E.  Johnson,  Albany, 
N.  Y. ;  Left  Hand  Support,  Sister  Mary  C.  Jackson,  Xew  York  city; 
Right  Hand  Conductor,  Sister  Ida  Epps,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  Left 
Hand  Conductor,  Sister  E.  C.  Purnall,  Easton  Shore,  'Md. 

The  Brothers  and  Sisters  and  the  Daughters  and  Sons  of  Moses 
is  a  strictly  Christian  and  benevolent  association.  It  was  founded 
and  organized  by  an  intelligent  race-loving  Afro- American,  Peter 
Paul  Brown,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  thirty-three  years  ago. 
It  is  a  secret  organization,  with  signs,  symbols,  pass-words  and  grip, 
having  encampments  in  all  the  States  and  territories  of  the  Union, 
and  is  exercising  a  great  influence  along  substantial  lines  tending  to 
the  bettermen  of  the  race  and  of  humanity. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF   DR.   \\II.LL\M   III-:XKV  JOHNSON.        139 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

27  MAIDEN  LANK,  ALBANY,  X.  V.,  April  24,  J<JOG. 

[lux.  JA.MKS  II.  BLKSSING, 

Mayor  of  Albany: 

I)I;AR  SLR. —  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  thai  citizens  of 
Albany  and  Troy  will  observe  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  birth  of  John  IJrown,  the  martyr  of  Harper's  Kerry,  by  celebrat 
ing  the  passage  of  Senator  Elsberg's  Anti-Discriminating  School 
r.ill.  iii  the  Hamilton  Street  A.  M.  E.  church,  this  city.  May  ninth, 
at  eight  r.  M..  and  I  have  also  the  honor  to  cordially  invite  you,  in 
the  name  of  all  of  the  people,  to  aet  on  that  occasion  as  honorary 
chairman  of  the  meeting. 

Sir.  it  is  with  sentiments  of  high  regard  and  personal  esteem 
entertained  that  enables  me  to  sign  myself. 

Yours  truly,  etc., 

\VM.    11.  J(  )HXS(  )X, 
Chairman  of  Committee  of  Arrangement. 

P.  S. —  The  committee  will  meet  to-morrow  evenin. 


CITY  OF  ALBANY,  MAYOR'S  OFFICK, 

ALBANY,  April  25,   1000. 
AY.  H.  JOHNSON,  ESQ.: 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  I  find  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  with 
you  on  the  evening  of  May  ninth,  and  reluctantly  am  obliged  to 
announce  my  inability  to  be  present. 

[  need  not  assure  you  I  hope  that  F  am  in  full  accord  with  the 
spirit  which  animated  those  who  have  made  preparations  for  observ 
ing  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John  Brown,  the 
martvr  of  Harper's  Ferrv. 

Hie  Avork  he  performed  made  lasting  impression  on  the  affairs 
of  this  nation.  He  did  not  die  in  vain.  The  culmination  of  his 
work,  so  far  as  the  State  of  Xew  York  is  concerned,  may  be  said 
io  be  in  the  Elsberg  bill,  which  declares  that: 


140  AUTOTMOGRAPITY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

'  Xo  person  shall  be  refused  admission  into  or  be  excluded  from 
any  public  school  in  the  State  of  Xe\v  York  on  account  of  race  or 
color." 

Congratulating  you  on  the  fruition  of  vonr  hopes,  and  again 
expressing  regret  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  be  present,  believe 
me  to  be, 

Sincerely  yours, 

JAMES  II.  BLESSING, 

Mayor. 

STATK  OK  X  KAY  YORK.  EXECL~TIYE  (/HAM  HER, 
ALBANY,  May   i ,  1900. 

\Y.  H.  JOHNSON,  Kso.,  27  Maiden  Lane,  *-l!ha)i\\  X.   Y.: 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  I  wish  1  could  accept  your  VCTY  kind  imitation 
to  attend  the  one  hundredth  anniversarv  of  the  birth  of  John  Brown, 
especially  as  I  have  just  signed  the  Hlsberg  bill,  but  it  is  simply  out 
of  the  question,  as  I  shall  be  in  Washington  Alav  ninth. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

THEODORE    ROOSEVELT. 


STATK.  OK  X  KAY  YORK.  Ass  KM  r-i.v   CHAM  HER, 
\YKSTKJKI.I).    X.   Y.,  Ma\   i,   KJOO. 

WILLIAM    II.  JOHNSON,  27  Maiden  Lane,  .llhanv.  A".    )'.: 

\\\  ])KAR  SLR. —  1  am  just   in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  May  first 

requesting  me  to  be  present  at  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth 

anniversary   of  the  birth   of  John    Brown   on   the   evening  of   May 

ninth. 

L  regret  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  in  the  city  at  that 

time. 

Thanking  you  for  your  kind  remembrance,  I  am, 

Very  truly  yours. 

S.    V.    XIXOX. 


K  OK  REPRESENTATIVES,  IT.  S., 

WASHINGTON.  Ma\  2,  [900. 

MR.  W.  H.  JOHNSON,  .llbany,  X.   Y.: 

MY   DEAR  SIR. —  T  am  in  receipt  of  your  invitation  on  behalf  of 
the  committee  of  arrangements  to  attend  the  exercises  in  the  IT  a 


ATTOIHOCKAIMIY     OK     DR.     \\'!LLIAM     IIKXRY     JOJIXSOX.  141 

ton  Street  Methodist  church  at  Albany  in  honor  of  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John  P>rown.  1  wish  to  extend  to  vou 
my  sincere  thanks  for  this  kind  invitation  and  to  say  that  if  it  were 
possible  for  me  to  attend,  1  would  be  delighted  to  do  so. 
A  pressure  of  official  business  here  at  Washington  makes  it  impos 
sible  for  me  to  accept  your  invitation. 

Again  thanking  you  for  the  honor  of  the  invitation.   [  am.  with 
regret , 

A 'cry  truly, 

MARTIX   II.  GLYXX, 
Member  of  Congress.  Twnliclh  AVu'  York  District. 


Tin-:  COLOR  HI  >  AMERICAN. 

(Published    bv   The    Colored    American    Publishing   Co.,   at    45*)   C 

Street,   X.  \Y.) 

\YASIIIX<;TOX,  .l/</v  -?.    1000. 
MR.  \YiLi.iAM  IT.  ]onxsox,  27  Maiden  Lane,  MIhan\\  A".   )'.: 

Mv  DF.AR  SIR. —  Your  note  of  the  1st  inst.  is  to  hand,  and  I  am 
glad  to  have  a  line  from  you.  I  am  glad  to  know  that  the  citizens 
of  Albany  and  Troy  have  united  to  observe  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John  P»ro\vn.  J  shall  make  mention  of 
the  same  in  this  week's  paper. 

You  ought  to  be  a  subscriber  to  "  The  Colored  American."  as 
you  were  one  of  the  old  readers  of  "  The  Freeman  "  and  have  stood 
by  me  all  along".  T  shall  be  glad,  not  only  to  receive  your  subscrip 
tion,  but  to  have  an  article  from  you  and  a  picture  or  a  cut  of  you 
to  run  in  "The  Colored  American"  at  an  early  date. 

f  wish  it  were  possible  for  me  to  be  present  at  the  exercises  of 
this  anniversary  entertainment  on  the  c;th  inst.,  but  I  am  afraid 
it  is  out  of  the  question. 

Yours  very  truly, 

E.  E.  COOPKR. 


TFII-:  JOURXAL  COMPAXY. 

ALP.AXY,  XT.  Y..  Men1  5,  KJOO. 

DKAR   SIR. —  Upon   my  return,  after  several   days'  absence   from 
the  city,  I  find  your  favor  of  the  first  inviting  me  to  be  present   on 


the  evening  of  the  ninth  at  the  Hamilton  Street  Methodist  church, 
where  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John  l>rown 
will  be  fittingly  celebrated. 

I  shall  certainly  be  present  upon  this  occasion,  if  my  duties  in  tin- 
city  of  Xew  York  do  not  call  me  out  of  town,  as  they  usually  do 
during  the  middle  of  the  week. 

However,  otir  friends  may  rest  assured  that  I  appreciate  the 
courtesy  of  the  invitation,  and  that  I  am  heartily  in  accord  with 
the  spirit  which  animates  this  meeting. 

Very  truly  yours, 

WILLIAM    rJARXES,  JR. 

WILLIAM    H.   jonxsox,  Eso.,  27  Maiden   Lane,  .\!han\,  \.    )'. 


LAW  OFFICE  OF   [ACOP,  A.  CAXTOR,  BANK  OF  COMMERCE   lU:iLi>- 
i\(i,  31  NASSUA  STRFFT. 

XFW   YORK,  Ma\  /,    i<;oo. 

DEAR  SIR. —  I  am  in  receipt  of  vonr  vcrv  kind  invitation  to  be 
with  you  on  the  evening  of  the  (jth  hist,  in  order  to  observe,  in 
conjunction  with  the  citizens  of  Albany  and  Trov,  the  one  hun 
dredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John  Brown,  and  also  to  cele 
brate  the  passage  of  the  Anti-Discriminating  School  Hill  of  this 
year.  I  extremely  regret,  however,  that  my  engagements  here  are 
such  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  present.  1  hope,  how 
ever,  that  the  affair  will  most  satisfactory  and  fitly  celebrate  two 
of  the  most  important  events  in  the  history  of  the  colored  people. 
I  am, 

Faithfully  yours, 

JACOB  A.  CAXT(  )R. 

\YlLLL\M    .11.     JOHNSON',   ESO.,    \().   2/    Maidc/l    LilllC.    .///></?/V,    A'.     Y. 


STATF  OF  XFW  YORK,  SENATE  CHAMHFU,  ALIJANV. 

AT  SYRACUSE,  X.  Y.,  .l/</y  7,  KJOO. 

WILLIAM   H.   [OTINSOX,  Eso.,  27  Maiden  La  tic,  Alban\,  X.    Y.: 

Mv  DEAR  SIR. —  Your  esteemed  favor  in  regard  to  the  meeting 
to  celebrate  the  passage  of  the  Elsberg  bill,  has  just  reached  me. 
I  greatly  regret  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  attend,  but  I 
earnestly  hope  this  occasion  ma\  be  a  memorable  one,  for  it  is 
devoted  to  an  excellent  cause.  As  chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Public  Education,  I  was  very  glad,  indeed,  to  promptly  report  this 


Al'TOl'.KHikAl'II  Y    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HFNRY    JOHNSON.  143 

bill,  and  subsequently  to  vote  for  it.     I,  therefore,  feel  that  I  may 
share  in  the  celebration. 

Congratulating  you  upon  the  success  of  your  efforts,  and  again 
regretting  my  inability  to  attend.  I  am. 

Very  cordially  yours, 

HORACE  WHITE. 


NATIONAL  AFRO-AMERICAN   COUNCIL. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  May  8,  1900. 

MR.  W.\r.  H.  JOHNSON,  Albany,  X.  Y.: 

MY  ])I-;AR  FRIEND.— Your  very  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John  Brown,  to  be 
held  in  your  city  May  ninth,  and  take  part  in  the  exercises,  was 
sent  to  my  home  while  I  was  away.  My  clerical  force  being  here 
with  me  in  attendance  on  our  general  conference,  was  the  occasion 
of  my  not  receiving  your  communication  sooner.  1  regret  my 
inability  to  be  present  on  account  of  my  duties  at  conference,  which 
will  not  adjourn  until  the  2ist  inst.  We  hope  to  have  a  successful 
and  profitable  meeting'  here  to-morrow  night  in  honor  of  John 
linnvn.  Besides  a  number  of  distinguished  ministers  who  will 
speak,  L'rof.  Kelly  Miller,  of  Howard  Iniversity;  Mr.  Archibald 
( irimke,  and  other  distinguished  citizens  of  this  city,  will  address  the 
meeting.  To  my  mind  there  is  no  person  more  worthy  to  be  honored 
bv  our  race  than  the  hero  of  Harper's  Ferrv.  The  race  owes  him 
a  lasting  debt  of  gratitude  for  his  heroic  service.  I  trust  yon  will 
have  a  pleasant  and  profitable  meeting. 

Yours  for  the  furtherance  of  our  common  cause, 

A.  WALTERS. 
No.   1 1 16"  SLvfli  Street,  N.   E. 


DISTRICT  ATTORXKY'S  OFFICK, 

ALT.ANY,  X.  Y.,  May  a  10,00. 

MR.  WILLIAM  H.  Jonxsox,  Albany,  X.  Y.: 

MY  DEAR  SIR. — - 1  deeply  regret  my  inability  to  be  present  at 
your  meeting  to-night.  I  expected  until  the  last  moment  to  be 
able  to  attend,  but  some  business  matters,  which  must  be  attended 
to  to-night,  prevent  my  attendance. 

Sincerely  hoping  that  your  meeting  will  be  a  success,  I  remain. 

Very  truly  yours,  - 

"ZEB  A.  DYER. 


144  Al'TOl'.KXiU. \1MIY    OK     Dk.     WILLIAM     IIKXRY    JOIIXSOX. 

Xo.  1032  LOMBARD  STREET, 

PHILADELPHIA,  Ma\  5,  1900. 

\\\  DK.AR  FRIEXD  Jonxsox. —  Please  accept  thanks  for  invita 
tion  to  participate  with  the  citizens  of  Albany  and  Troy  in  the  cele 
bration  of  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  John 
Brown,  and  the  celebration  of  the  passage  of  the  Flsberg  Anti- Dis 
criminating  School  Hill.  I  am  sorry  that  it  will  not  be  convenient 
for  me  to  be  present. 

1  have  taken  the  liberty  to  send  to  Mr.  Daniel  Murray,  Washing 
ton,  I).  ('.,  a  copy  of  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  [uly  by  the 
Banneker  Institute.  You  will  remember  you  made  a  speech  on 
the  occasion. 

My  wife  joins  me  in  the  expression  of  sentiments  of  the  highest 
esteem  for  you  and  Mrs.  Johnson. 

Very  truly  yours, 

1.  C.  WIITTF, 

Mr.  Wears  died  yesterday. 

F  have  sent  you  a  copy  of  "  The  Press." 

1C.  W. 


TrsKECKK,  ALA.,  Mav  3,  1000. 
MR.  WILLIAM   II.  Joiixsox,  2~  Maiden  Lane,  .llhuny,  X.  }\: 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  letter  of  May  first. 
inviting  me  to  be  present  at  the  exercises  in  connection  with  the 
celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  John 
Brown,  the  martyr  of  Harper's  Ferry.  Xothing  would  give  me 
greater  pleasure  than  to  be  present  with  you  on  this  occasion  if 
I  could  do  so,  but  I  have  just  returned  to  Tuskegee  after  an 
extended  absence  of  many  weeks.  At  some  other  time  I  trust  I 
niav  be  able  to  serve  you  and  the  others  who  join  you  in  extending 
this  invitation. 

The  passage  of  the  bill  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  .Yew 
York,  and  the  approval  of  same  by  liovernor  Roosevelt,  is  cause 
for  gratification.  Your  celebration  should  be  doubly  interesting, 
and  I  wish  that  T  could  be  with  you. 

Yours  truly, 

B(  )(  )l\Kk  T.  \VASH1XGT(  >X. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  145 

CHAPTER  IX. 

FROM  DOCTOR   JOHNSON'S  POCKET  ALP.UM. 

\V.\i.  II.  JOHNSON: 

\Yith   kindest   regards   and   best    wisbes   of 

(i86u     KREDERICK   DOTGLASS. 


Our  acquaintance  lias  made  us  friends, 

OCTAVIUS  V.  CATTO. 


Ni-:\v  HAVKN,  si n gust  6,  1861. 

"At  nos  non  imperium  neque  divitias  petimus,  qnarum  reruni 
causa  bella  atque  certamina  omnia  inter  mortales  stint:  sed 
libertatem  quam  nemo  bonus,  nisi  cum  anima  sinnil  amittit." 

E1JEXE/ER    I).  P.ASSETT. 
Xe\v  Haven.  August  /.  1861. 

Trul v  vour  friend, 


CHARLES  P.  SMITIF, 
Sereant  of  tbe  joth  Col.  Vols..  X.  Y. 


"Duui  I  ii'inins  I  ri' 
l;uii-:.\i)    IOIINSOX. —  (  )ur   acquaintance    has   been    short,   but   of 
such  a  nature  as  to  insure  you  a  firm  place  in  my  memorv.      Sin 
cerely  hoping  that  yon  may  ever  meet  with  >uccess  on  life's  stormy 
billows,  I  remain 

Your  sincere  friend, 

DR.  C.  VAX  REXSSELAER  CREED. 
Xew  Haven.  (  t..  August  8.   1861. 
10 


146          Al'TOtlLOGRAFllY    OF    Dft.    \VlLLlAM    HENRY    JOHNSON1. 

My  friendly  wishes  to  you.     May  you're  walks  be  as  conducive  to 
the  age  as  the  rod  of  Moses  was  to  the  Israelites. 

Your  friend,  truly, 

J.  C.  BISHOP. 
Annapolis,  Aid.,  November  22,  [861. 


.With  the  highest  considerations  of  respect  and  esteem, 

1  am  your  friend, 

J.  C.   \VHITK,  JR. 
Philadelphia,  March  26,   1862. 


DAVIS  T).  Tl'RXKR.  Philadelphia.   Pa. 


Don't  forget  Norwich,  New  Haven,  the  steamer  Cahamba,  Wash 
ington  city,  Camp  Welles,  Russell's  School,  Brown's  Hotel,  Taylor's 
Tavern,  Camp  McDowell,  Falls  Church,  nor 

Your  sincere  friend, 

F.  S.  CHKSTKR. 


WASHINGTON,  7///V  /,  i8(u. 
WM.  H.  JOHNSON: 

With  sincere  gratitude  for  all  your  faithfulness  to  my  dear  son  in 
the  camp  and  on  the  field, 

1  am,  very  trulv,  your  friend, 

A.  V.  CHFSTKk. 
Buffalo,  August  20.  1861. 


GRAY  GABLES,  BUZZARDS  BAY, 

MASS.,  August  8,  1892. 
WILLIAM  H.  JOHNSON,  ESQ.: 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  I  desire  to  thank  you  for  sending  me  a  copy  of 
the  "  Calcium  Light."  You  are  certainly  engaged  in  a  most  laud 
able  undertaking  in  your  attempt  "  to  obliterate  the  odious  and 
senseless  color  line  in  politics." 

Very  truly  yours, 

GROVER  CLEVELAND. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OK     DR.     WILLIAM     IILXKY    J  (  )  1 1  XS<  ).\.  147 

(  )n  the  afternoon  of  December  30,  1898,  while  Dr.  Johnson  was 
Imsily  engaged  at  his  well-known  establishment,  an  old  friend  and 
patron.  "Jack"  O'Brien,  entered  the  plaee  with  a  plump  i8-pound 
turkey  in  his  hand. 

Mis  face  was  lit  up  with  smiles,  and,  addressing  the  doctor,  he 
said:  "Doc,  Monday  is  Xew  Year  and  everyone  eats  turkey  on 
that  day.  Take  this  one  and  I  hope  you,  your  wife  and  the  children 
will  enjoy  it." 

The  doctor  stopped  work  a  minute  and  shot  a  glance  at  O'Brien, 
and  said:  "  1  think  this  is  a  game  of  bluff,  but.  if  you  mean  it,  just 
lay  that  bird  down." 

(  )'J-)rien  did  so,  and,  after  a  farewell  salutation,  departed.  With 
a  quick  eye  to  business,  the  doctor  made  haste  to  get  the  turkey 
up  to  his  house  and  within  an  hour  after  its  arrival  there,  it  was 
already  to  go  in  the  oven  for  Monday. 

About  11.30  o'clock  that  night,  ()T>ricn  walked  into  the  estab 
lishment  and  asked  for  the  turkey. 

Doc"   looked  at  him   and   said.   "  \\liy   man.   that   turkey   is   a 
goner,  sure;  what  do  vou  mean?'1 

It  was  all  up  with  (  )T>rien.  and  he  knew  it.  and,  true  to  his 
Irish  wit,  he  strolled  out  without  a  murmur.  The  story  leaked  out 
a  few  days  later.  It  seems  that  Fred  Rauscher  and  George  Herrick 
had  purchased  the  turkey  to  be  raffled  off  at  the  White  Elephant  on 
Xew  Year's  eve.  and  that  O'Brien,  thinking  it  would  be  a  joke, 
stole  the  turkey  that  afternoon.  He  took  it  over  to  Sheriff  William 
II.  keeler.  and  asked  him  to  hide  it. 

Sheriff  Keeler  \viselv  referred  him  to  Johnson  with  his  prize, 
knowing"  how  the  doctor  could  hide  turkeys  or  anything1  else  that 
had  feathers. 

He  took  it  to  the  doctor,  who  didn't  do  a  thing  to  it  Monday, 
and  who  washed  it  down  with  a  little  wet  stuff. 

(  )T>rien  settled  for  the  turkey  and  has  ever  since  warned  everyone 
he  met  to  beware  of  Dr.  Johnson  when  they  had  turkeys  to  hide. 

Those  who  were  on  to  the  game,  christened  it  the  Tiger  Hunt, 
and  made  Doc  the  hero  of  it. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OK     DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHXSO.V. 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  BE  You  A  NIGGER?  " 

This  question  was  asked  us  more  than  a  score  of  years  ago  by 
a  little  Irish  lad  of  about  five  years.  There  was  a  bitter  feeling 
existing  against  the  Xegro  by  the  Irish  inhabitants  of  the  ward 
which  we  had  recently  moved  into.  It  had  been  said  that  a  colored 
man  could  not  live  in  the  street  upon  which  we  had  moved,  nor 
anywhere  in  the  neighborhood,  because  of  the  hostility  of  the  Irish 
people,  and  they  abounded  in  that  vicinity;  there  seemed  to  be  an 
insurmountable  barrier  existing  between  the  Irish  and  the  Xegro 
races.  So  high  did  the  feeling  run  against  the  Xegro  that  the  little 
boys  upon  certain  streets,  just  as  soon  as  they  saw  a  colored  man 
put  in  an  appearance,  would  insult  him  in  any  and  every  manner 
possible;  would  call  out  to  him:  "  Xigger,  nigger  never  die.  black 
face  and  shiny  eye.''  This  was  tantalizing,  and  often  the  irate  and 
imprudent  subject  of  the  attack  would  retaliate  upon  the  boys.  l>y 
retort  of  words,  or  by  blows,  either  of  which  was  certain  to  bring  to 
the  reserve  of  the  boys  sufficient  re-enforcement  in  the  persons  of 
half-grown  men,  to  speedily  demolish  the  object  of  the  first  assault, 
and  \ve  blacks  were  always  getting  the  worst  of  it,  whether  we  were 
right  or  not.  \Ye  had  lived  on  the  street  at  the  time  of  the  incident 
we  are  about  to  relate,  about  six  or  eight  months,  and  had  been 
greatly  annoyed  by  the  small  boy,  but  apparently  had  paid  no  atten 
tion  to  it,  determined  to  live  the  prejudice  down,  and,  believing  that 
by  judicious  treatment  of  the  matter,  the  bad  case  of  Irish  prejudice 
against  us  could  be  cured.  As  we  came  down  the  street  one  after 
noon,  the  little  boy,  above-mentioned,  stepped  briskly  out  from  a 
group  of  other  boys  who  were  sitting  upon  the  front  sloop  of  a 
house  at  whose  windows  we  noticed  several  young  men  and  some 
women.  The  little  shaver  stopped  immediately  in  front  of  us  and 
said:  "  I>e  you  a  nigger?"  We  hesitated  a  moment;  then,  raising 
our  voices  so  that  those  at  the  window  could  hear  us,  asked  him 
if  he  had  a  mother.  The  little  fellow  seemed  somewhat  surprised, 
but  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Then  we  asked  him  if  they  went  to 
church.  He  again  answered  in  the  affirmative.  "  What  church?" 
we  asked.  "  St.  Mary's."  "  Well,  then,  my  good  little  boy,"  said 
we,  "  when  you  go  home,  you  tell  your  mother,  for  she  must  be  a 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  149 

in joil  woman  if  she  regularlv  attends  Father  Walworth's  church, 
huw  vou  accosted  a  ])eacefnl,  well-behaved  colored  man,  who  wants 
to  live  in  this  street,  and  thinks  he  can,  because  lie  means  to  be  civil 
and  treat  even-body  like  Christians,  and  that  he  told  you  to  ask  her 
if  he  is  a  nigger;  if  she  tells  you  to  continue  to  so  call  him,  it  will 
be  all  right:  children  ought  to  obey  their  parents."  A  few  days 
later  we  passed  down  the  same  street  and  was  again  accosted  by  the 
same  little  boy,  whose  face  was  illuminated  by  smiles;  reaching 
up  his  trim  little  hands,  he  said:  "  Mister,  my  ma  says  that  you  don't 
be  a  nigger,  you  be  a  man,  and  that  me  was  naughty  to  say  that  to 
vou  toder  dav."  \Ye  took  the  little  fellow's  hand  and  pressed  it 
warmlv,  realizing  more  forcibly  than  ever  that  the  Godly  precept 
to  return  good  for  evil  was  of  divine  origin. 

The  Xegro  problem,  as  it  is  called,  has  been  solved  in  this  ward, 
citv  and  State.  To-day  the  Afro- American  has  no  warmer  or  more 
consistent  friend  than  the  Irish  citizen,  the  Catholic  church. —  [The 
Calcium  Light,  \Yilliam  If.  Johnson. 

Albany,  X.  Y.,  February  6,  1892. 


Tin-:  FJHCTIOX  OF  DR.  JOHNSON. 

The   Color   Line   Drawn  —  Applied   for   Seats   in   the    Trimble   Opera 
House  in  18/0  and  Insulted. 

Question  of  Color  in  Our  Theatres  —  The  Following  is  a  Tran 
script,  and  Tells  Its  Own  Story  of  Persecution. 
On  Thursday  evening,  Mr.  Johnson,  a  colored  barber,  doing  busi 
ness  in  Maiden  Lane,  having  procured  three  reserved  seat  tickets 
for  the  dress  circle  of  the  Trimble  Opera  House,  attempted,  with  his 
wife  and  child,  to  gain  admission.  The  doorkeeper  refused  to  admit 
him  to  the  dress  circle;  he  appealed  to  Mr.  Lucien  Barnes,  the  mana 
ger,  insisting  upon  his  right  to  the  seats,  as  he  had  bought  and  paid 
for  them.  Mr.  Barnes  informed  him  that  colored  people  were  not 
admitted  to  the  dress  circle,  but  that  a  place  was  set  apart  for  them 
in  the  family  circle,  and  gave  him  the  alternative  of  going  there  or 
leaving  the  theatre.  Mr.  Johnson,  we  understand,  made  consider 
able  noise  in  insisting  upon  what  he  considered  his  rights,  and  was 
finally  peremptorily  ordered  out  of  the  building.  At  first  he  was  not 
disposed  to  go,  until  he  was  ejected  by  force;  but,  yielding  to  the 
advice  of  friends,  he  left  without  further  trouble.  It  is  said  that 
Johnson  intends  to  prosecute  Mr.  Barnes  for  ejecting  him  from  the 
opera  house,  and  that  the  affair  was  got  up  purposely  to  make  a 


150  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DK.    WILLIAM     IfENRY    JOHNSON. 

case  in  court,  that  the  (|iicstion  as  to  the  rights  of  Negroes  in  thea 
tres  may  be  determined.  Mr.  I  James  insists  upon  the  justice  of  his 
rule,  as  it  would  utterly  destroy  the  popularity  of  his  place  of 
amusement  to  admit  colored  people  to  the  dress  circle,  and  to  per 
mit  them  to  mingle  indiscriminately  with  the  whites.  Whatever 
may  be  the  abstract  merits  of  the  question,  it  must  be  confessed  that, 
looking-  at  it  from  that  point  of  view,  Mr.  Barnes  makes  a  strong 
point  on  the  basis  of  interest.  However,  our  lawyers  will  doubtless 
have  a  pleasant  time  over  it,  if  no  one  else  does. —  [Albany  Kvening 
Journal,  Saturday  evening,  January  22,.  1870. 


THE    EJECTMENT    OK    M  R.    JOHNSON    KK<>M    THE   TKIMIH.E    OPERA 

HOUSE. 

We  have  received  the  following  card  from  Mr.  Johnson,  the  col 
ored  man,  who  was  ejected  from  the  Trimble  Opera  House-  on 
Thursday  last: 

ALBANY,  January  24,   1870. 

MR.  EDITOR. —  As  there  seems  to  be  a  disposition  on  the  part  of 
some,  to  misrepresent  the  circumstances  attending  the  very  unpleas 
ant  affair  which  took  place  at  the  Trimble  Opera  House,  on  the- 
evening  of  the  twentieth  inst..  when  my  wife,  child  and  self  were 
forcibly  ejected,  and  as  there  seems  to  be  a  determination  to  mould 
public  opinion  against  me,  by  representing  that  I  procured  tickets 
through  the  assistance  of  a  second  party,  "  and  that  the  affair  was 
got  up  purposely  to  make  a  case  in  court,  that  the  question  as  to 
the  right  of  Xegroes  in  theatres  might  be  decided,"  and  further,  that 
1  was  in  league  with  other  parties  in  a  plot  to  annoy  Mr.  Barnes, 
and  to  disturb  the  peace  and  mar  the  enjoyment  of  the  patrons  of 
the  opera  hose,  justice  demands  that  the  truth  be  told. 

The  facts  are  simply  these:  I  desired  to  attend  the  opera  house;  I 
did  not  know  whether  persons  of  color  were  or  were  not  admitted. 
1  had  heard  that  they  were,  and  I  also  heard  that  they  were  not. 
admitted;  yet.  I  did  not  at  any  time  believe  that  they  would  be 
refused  admission ;  neither  did  I  believe  that  an  orderly,  respectable 
colored  citizen,  with  his  family,  would  be  denied  admittance  to  any 
proper  public  place.  I  thought,  also,  that  the  proper  way  to  gain 
admission  was  by  the  purchase  of  tickets  in  person,  at  the  box-office, 
and  if  there  were  any  objections  to  be  made  to  my  admission,  they 
would  be  made  there,  and  that  we  would  not  be  subjected  to  insult 
and  outrage  in  the  presence  of  the  public.  So,  desiring  to  see  the 


FATHER  WALWORTH, 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     11HXKY    JOIFXSOX.  153 

opera  house,  and  to  witness  Mr.  Kddy's  personation  of  the  "  I'olice 
Spy,"  I  stepped  into  the  box-office  about  noon  Thursday  last,  and 
bought  two  tickets  for  reserved  seats  in  the  dress  circle  —  and, 
then,  upon  reflection,  1  bought  a  third.  The  first  two  were  bought 
for  my  son  and  myself:  but,  becoming  satisfied  that  there  were  no 
objections 'to  our  entrance,  and  being  still  farther  desirous  that  the 
seller  of  the  tickets  should  have  sufficient  opportunity  to  discover 
mv  color  (which,  by  the  way,  is  unmistakably  dark),  I  purchased  a 
third  ticket,  intending  to  invite  Mrs.  ['.  to  accompanv  us.  Having 
appeared  myself  at  the  box  office,  and  having  bought  three  tickets, 
two  at  lirst,  and  afterwards  another  —  all  doubts,  if  anv  existed, 
of  my  uninterrupted  admission  were  removed.  In  the  evening,  mv 
wife,  boy  and  self  attended  the  opera  house,  and  were  forcibly 
ejected. 

These  are  the  facts  in  the  case.  1  had  no  thought  of  making  this 
a  test  question  for  the  courts,  neither  was  1  advised  to  do  so.  I 
acted  for  myself,  and  in  perlect  good  faith.  I  purchased  mv  tickets 
at  the  box-office,  in  mid-day,  and  felt  then,  as  I  feel  now,  that  at  the 
box-office,  and  not  at  the  entrance  to  the  dress  circle,  the  question 
of  our  admission  ought  to  have  been  decided. 

WILLIAM  II.  JOHNSON. 
—  [Albany  Evening  Journal,  Monday  evening,  Januarv  24,   1870. 

Dr.  Johnson  brought  suit  against  the  Trimble,  laying  damage  at 
$2,000,  in  the  Supreme  Court.  The  case  was  referred  to  Counselor 
Kdward  Xewcomb,  whose  report  was  in  favor  of  the  claimant.  A 
compromise,  however,  was  reached  between  the  parties,  without 
further  litigation,  the  defendant  agreeing  to  do  business  in  the 
future  upon  equal  rights  principles  and  break  the  color  line.  The 
doctor  withdrew  his  damage  claim,  and  was  admitted  free  to  the 
opera  house  during  the  management  of  the  Trimbles.  The  counsel 
tor  the  claimant  were  Messrs.  Hand,  Hale  and  Swartz;  those  for 
the  defense  were  Messrs.  Smith,  Bancroft  and  Moak.  Since  then 
all  theatres  have  been  doing  business  upon  the  equal  rights  plan, 
until  now,  Mr.  Jacobs  sees  fit  to  draw  the  "  color  line  "  in  Harmanus 
lUeecker  Hall,  without  consulting  the  trustees,  and,  regardless  of 
the  fact  that  the  site  upon  which  the  Hall  is  built,  was  purchased 
by  popular  subscription.  Dr.  Johnson's  $5  were  received  by  the 
then  managers  as  being  as  white  as  anybody's  and,  when  he  wants 
to  enjoy  a  performance  there,  he  will  come  pretty  near  doing  so,  or 
will  learn,  in  a  proper  and  legal  manner,  the  reason  why. 


154  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    t)R.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

WOMAN. 

There  is  in  session,  in  this  city,  at  this  time,  a  convention  whose 
duty  it  is  to  revise  the  Constitution  of  this  State.  As  the  organic 
law  stands  to-day,  the  women  of  the  State  are  not  in  it.  They  are 
not  recognized,  excepting  as  citizens.  This  is  not  as  it  ought  to  be. 
She  is  as  much  entitled  to  the  right  of  election  as  are  men.  The 
right  to  vote  is  not  a  natural  right,  possessed  by  all,  but  a  conven 
tional  one;  as  it  stands  to-day,  men  are  the  lords  and  masters  of  the 
suffrage  that  meet  in  conventions,  and  vo.te  themselves,  at  the 
exclusion  of  their  mothers,  wives,  sisters  and  daughters  —  the  abso 
lute  right  and  privilege  of  election.  This,  I  regard  as  a  cowardly 
advantage  taken.  They  plead  the  lame  excuse  that  the  best  women 
don't  want  to  vote,  and  that,  if  they  did,  their  voting  would  lower 
the  moral  standard  of  the  suffrage.  Nonsense!  As  far  as  the  prin 
ciple  involved  in  this  matter  is  concerned,  it  is  none  of  their  business, 
or  mine,  whether  the  best  women  want  to  vote  or  not.  If  there  is 
one  woman  in  ten  thousand  who  wants  to  exercise  the  elective  fran 
chise,  she  ought  to  possess  that  privilege.  Now,  as  to  her  lowering 
the  moral  standing  of  the  suffrage  by  going  to  the  polls,  it  is  the 
sheerest  "bosh,"  and  all  history  cries  out  against  the  outrage  per 
petrated  against  our  mothers,  wires,  sisters  and  daughters.  Woman's 
influence  has  always  been  exerted  for  good.  Gentlemen  lift  their 
hats  to  ladies  on  the  highway  and  surrender  their  seats  to  them  on 
the  street  cars  and  in  crowded  churches,  the  lecture-room  and  places 
of  amusement. 

Men  —  the  common,  every-day  man,  he  that  lays  no  claim  to 
refinement  or  culture,  does  the  same  in  the  presence  of  woman  —  in 
public  places,  and  that,  too,  without  stopping  to  determine  the 
moral  character  of  the  representative  of  the  sex  that  his  mother 
belongs  to.  If  women  were  allowed  to  vote,  little  time  would  be 
lost  from  the  performance  of  their  domestic  duties,  and  there  would 
be  thrown  around  the  voting  places  a  halo  of  woman's  beautiful 
moral,  religious  and  elevating  influence. 

I  hope  that  the  wise  men  constituting  the  Constitutional  Con 
vention  will  do  themselves  justice  by  securing  and  awarding  equal 
rights  to  their  sisters. 

•  For  a  thousand  years  or  more  efforts  have  been  expended  in  civi 
lized  countries  bv  good,  true  and  grand  men  for  the  lifting  up  of 
woman,  from  the  degradation  of  serfdom  and  political  oppression, 
to  the  high  plane  of  sisterhood  and  equality;  efforts  in  this  line  are 
being  made  to-day  with  bright  and  flattering  prospects  for  success. 
Then  let  the  good  work  go  bravely  on.  This  country  has  been 


ArTonior.KAPii  v  OF   DK.   WILLIAM   HKXRY  joiixsox.         r^ 

transferred  from  slave  to  free.  The  Xcgro  from  a  slave  to  a  free 
man,  and  all  of  us  eitizens.  \Ve.  therefore,  turn  our  attention  for  a 
moment  to  the  cause  of  woman. 

She  is  our  mother,  wife,  sister  and  daughter.  There  is  an  unwar 
ranted  prejudice  against  her.  It,  like  slaverv.  is  the  creation  of 
ignorance  and  bigotry.  It  must,  sooner  or  later,  give  wav  to  a 
broader  and  more  comprehensive  acceptance  of  woman  for  all  that 
she  represents  and  the  enlargement  of  her  sphere. 

As  she  is  the  companion  and  the  helpmate  of  man,  and  as  she  has 
been  so  decreed  by  the  laws  of  (  iod.  she  ought,  also,  to  be  accepted 
as  his  peer  in  all  things. 

The  women  of  this  country,  white  and  black,  contribute  materi 
ally  to  the  cause  of  freedom.  Among  those  that  distinguished 
themselves,  and  earned  hv  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  the 
imperishable  gratitude  of  mankind,  mav  be  mentioned  Lucretia 
Mott.  of  Philadelphia:  Filcn  \\~atkins  Harper,  Llizabeth  Cadv  Stan- 
ton,  Kdmonia  Lewis,  the  sculptress,  and  Madame  Louise  l)e  Mou- 
trie.  of  Hoston,  who  proved  to  be  a  Florence  Nightingale  doing 
nurse  duty  on  the  bivouac,  the  tented  field  and  in  the  army  hospitals 
in  the  citv  of  Xew  (  h'leans  and  elsewhere. 

\\oman!  (iod  bless  her:  she  was  and  always  is  true,  always  on 
the  side  of  mercy  and  justice.  She  cared  for  and  helped  the  panting 
fugitive  in  his  efforts  for  freedom.  She  cared  for  and  nursed  the 
sick,  the  distressed  and  the  indigent:  and  she  did  so  without  regard 
to  their  color  or  their  sex.  She  furnished  money  and  provender  out 
of  her  scant}'  means  to  the  I'nion  soldiers  on  their  way  to  the  war 
for  freedom,  and  she  followed  them  with  her  prayers  to  the 
battlefield. 

When  the  cruel  war  was  over  she  stretched  forth  her  open  hands 
and  her  warm  heart  in  greetings  to  the  returning  veterans.  She  is 
entitled  to  the  highest  commendations  of  her  fellow-men. 

Her  efforts  are  not  to  be  despised.  She  has  kept  green  the 
graves  of  all  the  heroes  that  fell  in  all  the  battles  for  freedom. 

She  has  nobly  fulfilled  her  mission  as  a  patriotic  citizen.  She  has 
helped  ennoble  and  unfold  the  beauties  of  the  human  character. 

\Ye  have  before  us  in  our  review  the  life  work  of  intelligent, 
educated  and  Christian  classes,  both  women  and  men;  those  that 
have  demonstrated  their  aptitude  to  comprehend  and  master  the 
problems  of  the  hour.  In  my  judgment,  deliberately  and  consider 
ately  formed,  :*.'<'///<///  is  the  equal  and  peer  of  man.  Individually 
and  collectively,  their  paths  lie  in  the  same  direction:  they  are  to  go 
on  and  upward  side  bv  side,  gathering  strength  and  force  as  they 
proceed. 


1 56        ArTor.ior.KAriiY  OF  DR.  WILLIAM   IIEXRY  JOHNSON. 

Society,  by  their  joint,  united  and  intellectual  teaching,  and  bv 
the  lorce  of  their  practical  example,  is  to  be  purified,  beautified  and 
unfolded,  in  its  highest  perfection,  made  blessed  before  heaven  and 
in  the  sight  of  Almighty  God. 

Freely  ye  have  received;  freely  give." 

This  is  the  autlmrative  mandate  of  humanity,  as  well  as  of  Divine 
Providence  and  revelation. 

\Yoman  is  often  and  unjustly  hindered  and  discouraged  in  her 
reformatory  work.  She  is  admonished  to  halt,  to  go  slow,  ller 
sphere  of  labor  and  the  line  of  duty  marked  out  is  often  abridged  and 
retarded  by  the  mandate  of  man,  because,  forsooth,  lie,  having  all 
the  say  in  the  political  economy  of  current  events  and  affairs  of  State, 
arrogates  to  himself  the  commanding  and  the  dictatorial  position  in 
life. 

But,  in  the  ages  yet  unfolded  when  the  last  pilgrim  shall  have 
reached  the  summit  of  his  glories;  when  the  Beatitudes  of  Matthew, 
Mark,  Luke  and  John  shall  attain  their  deserved  admiration;  and 
the  Marys,  the  Marthas,  Elizabeths,  Ruths  and  Rachels  of  biblical 
history  and  renown,  stretch  forth  their  sainted  hands  to  welcome 
the  pure  and  just;  then,  and  not  until  then,  will  be  found  the  achieve 
ments  of  woman  inscribed  upon  the  life's  book  of  the  angels  as  true, 
just  and  most  substantially  beneficial. —  [For  the  Albany  Capitol, 
by  \Ym.  H.  Johnson. 

Albany,  July  4.  1894. 


WHAT  THE  LEADERS  SAY. 

Tlic  Republican  Colored  League,  of  Alban\\  Wants  a  Man  from  the 

Interior  Honored. 

\Ye  have  received  the  following: 

ALP.AXY,  September  19,  1887. 
To  TIH-:  ALP,  AX  Y  JOURNAL: 

The  Republican  party,  in  State  Convention  last  week,  after  plac 
ing  in  nomination  a  most  excellent  State  ticket,  and  promulgating 
an  unexceptional!}'  good  and  strong  platform  of  principles,  with 
unanimity  adopted  a  resolution  authorizing  the  State  Committee  to 
select  a  colored  man  as  a  State  committeeman-at-large.  The  State 
Committee  will  meet  on  the  twenty-second,  and  after  its  formal 
organization  will  undoubtedly  make  a  selection.  Now,  we  have 
to  suggest  that  the  man  named  for  that  position  be  one  capable  and 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  157 

worthy  of  the  place,  and  a  representative  Republican  and  not  a  per 
sonal  favorite.  There  are  about  25,000  colored  voters  in  this  State, 
nine-tenths  of  whom  have  uniformly  voted  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  in  the  selection  of  a  man  to  represent  them  great  care  ought  to 
1)0  taken  in  naming  a  man  that  would  prove  acceptable  to  the  great 
est  number.  The  interest  of  all  throughout  the  entire  State  should 
be  considered.  Two  years  ago  a  colored  gentleman,  a  resident  of 
the  citv  of  Xe\v  York,  Mr.  Louis  Williams,  was  appointed  to  that 
place;  this  year  the  selection  ought,  by  right,  to  come  from  the 
interior,  and,  in  deference  to  this  principle,  there  will  be  presented 
to  the  committee,  among  others,  the  name  of  a  man  who  enjoys  the 
confidence  of  the  party  of  both  races,  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any 
other;  a  man  who,  bv  his  fearless  and  untiring  fealty  to  the  party  for 
the  last  twenty-five  years,  entitles  him  and  his  friends  to  recognition 
at  the  hands  of  the  committee  of  the  party. 

WILLIAM  II.  YOPP,  Chairman, 

WILLIAM   IT.  CHAPMAN,  Secretary, 

Colored  Republican  League. 


XHW  YORK,  September  22,  1887. 
DK.  \\'.M.  H.  JOHNSON,  27  Maiden  Lane,  Albany,  N.  Y.: 

Congratulations  on   your  election  as  State   Committeeman;   yon 
received  22  votes;  Trower,  4;  Derrick.  8. 

JOHN  A.  SLKlCIIKk. 


(From  the  Albany  Evening  Journal.) 

ALHANV,  September  24,   1887. 

Mr.  Johnson,  in  accepting  the  honor,  intends  to  lay  aside  all  per 
sonal  feeling,  and  work  energetically  for  the  good  of  the  partv. 
To-dav  he  sent  the  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  William  l>.  Derrick, 
and  a  similar  one  to  |.  A.  I  rower,  his  two  competitors: 

1  )R.  W.  r>.  DERRICK: 

DKAR  SIR. —  I  would  be  pleased  to  meet  and  confer  with  von  in 
the  interest  of  the  grand  old  party  when  1  tome  to  New  York  city, 
which  will  be  soon,  though  I  cannot  now  fix  the  date. 

I  am,  yours  truly,  etc., 

YV.  II.   rOHNSON. 


158  AUTOJJIOGRAI'HY    OE    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSOX. 

NEW  YORK  CITY,  218  SULLIVAN  STREET,  September  26,  1887. 
])R.  \\".  if.  JOHNSON,  Albany: 

DEAR  SIR. —  Yours  of  the  twenty-fourth  instant  came  safely  to 
hand.  I  am  with  you.  Anything"  that  I  can  do  in  assisting  the 
part}'  to  victorv,  I  stand  ready  to  do. 

Yours  truly, 

\V.  P..  DERRICK. 


1>ROOKLYX,  X.  Y.,  382  S.    Koi'RTII   STREET,  October  2,    1887. 

\Y.  H.  JOHNSON,  Eso.: 

DEAR  SIR.—  Yours  of  the  twenty-fourth  and  twenty-ninth  were 
duly  received.  I  would  have  written  before,  but  I  have  been  out 
for  ten  days,  every  night  from  eight  to  twelve  o'clock  shaping  things 
for  the  interests  of  the  Republicans  in  our  count}'  and  State.  Sir, 
as  our  standard  bearer,  I  congratulate  you.  Every  man  of  my  race- 
should  help  to  support  you  as  Republican  State  Committeeman. 

I  shall  be  more  than  glad  to  confer  with  you  concerning  the  inter 
ests  of  the  Republican  party  and  my  race. 

1  will  meet  you  Friday  at  ten  o'clock  at  the  Republican  1  lead- 
quarters,  Eifth  Avenue  Hotel. 

Yours  fraternally, 

j.  A.  TROXYKR. 


AUTOUIOGRA1JHY    OF     DR.     WfLLIAM     IIKXKY    JOHXSOX.  159 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Tin-:  ALT? AN v  KXPRKSS. 

ALP, AX v,  October   i,   1868. 
(Circulating   Library.) 

The  Albany  Library  Association  purpose,  as  soon  as  they  collect 
a  sufficient  number  of  books,  to  open  a  circulating  library  in  this 
city,  to  be  used  principally  as  an  educator  of  colored  people,  thereby 
helping  to  fit  them  to  assume  the  duties  of  citizenship,  which  have 
descended  upon  them  by  the  will  of  the  American  people. 

Members  are  solicited,  without  regard  to  race  or  color. 

Membership,  $1.00  per  year;  or,  $5.00  for  life. 

An  appeal  is  hereby  made  to  the  friends  of  progressive  education, 
to  contribute  to  this  enterprise,  bv  giving  books,  large  or  small,  old 
or  new,  few  or  many.  Friends,  knowing  that,  without  diminishing 
your  own  prosperity,  you  can  assist  us  in  our  efforts  for  self-educa 
tion,  the  undersigned  ask  some  donation  from  you,  and  for  the  same 
will  thank  you  most  sincerely. 

Hoard  of  Managers:  President,  William  11.  Johnson;  vice-presi 
dent,  Leonard  H.  Jackson;  recording  secretary.  J.  O.  Allen;  treas 
urer,  Gideon  Lippitt;  corresponding  secretary,  J.  A.  Smith; 
sergeant-at-arms,  Charles  Van  Vranken;  librarian,  Edward  Crosby. 

Any  information  desired  can  be  obtained  by  addressing 

WILLIAM  H.  JOHXSOX, 

27  Maiden  Lane,  .llban\.  A.    )'. 


THE  ARGUS. 

THURSDAY  MORXJXG,  October  7,  1869. 

The  first  annal  election  of  the  Albany  Literary  Association  took 
place  Tuesday  evening,  and  resulted  in  the  election  of  the  following 
officers  for  the  ensuing  year: 

President,  William  H.  Johnson;  vice-president,  Thomas  Llkins: 
treasurer,  Gideon  Lippitt;  recording  secretary,  J.  Q.  Allen;  cor 
responding  secretary,  C.  H.  Van  Vranken;  librarian,  C.  H.  Butler; 
master  of  ceremonies,  J.  A.  Smith. 


160       AUTomor.RAPiiY  or  DR.  WILLIAM  HENRY  JOHNSON. 

ALBANY  LITERARY  ASSOCIATION. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Albany  Literary  Association  was 
held  last  evening.  The  attendance  was  large,  and  much  interest 
was  manifested  in  the  working  of  the  Association.  The  following 
report  of  the  president  was  made: 

To  the  Albany  Literary  Association: 

The  undersigned  desires  respectfully  to  report  that,  under  instruc 
tions  of  the  board,  adopted  February  15,  1869,  he  has  purchased  for 
the  library  one  hundred  and  one  books  in  the  cities  of  New  York, 
Philadelphia  and  Albany,  and  that  he  has  paid  for  books  $75.82;  for 
transportation  of  books,  $4.00,  and  for  fare  to  Xew  York  and  back. 
$6.20.  Total  amount  expended,  $86.02.  Thirty-five  dollars  of  this 
amount  was  drawn  from  the  treasurer,  by  order  of  the  board,  and 
the  balance,  $51.02,  was  obtained  by  individual  subscriptions,  and 
for  which  members'  certificates  have  been  issued  to  both  old  and 
young  persons,  who,  owing  to  adverse  circumstances  with  which 
they  were  surrounded,  would  otherwise  have  been  unable  to  enjoy 
the  benefits  of  a  circulating  library. 

lie  desires  further  to  report  that  there  is  in  the  library  at  this  time, 
catalogued  and  in  circulation,  five  hundred  and  twelve  volumes  of 
miscellaneous  works;  that  they  comprise  subjects  of  history,  ancient 
and  modern;  religious  and  moral  writings,  works  of  science,  art  and 
agriculture;  poetry  translated  from  the  classics,  etc.;  also,  choice1 
selections  from  celebrated  and  standard  romantic  and  historical  nov 
elists.  Four  hundred  and  eleven  of  these  volumes  have  been  gen 
erously  contributed  by  the  friends  of  education  in  this  city,  and  to  all 
such  the  thanks  of  the  association  are  due,  and  have  been  voted  by 
the  board  of  managers.  The  other  one  hundred  and  one  were  pur 
chased  with  a  view  to  complete  the  classification  above  enumerated. 
The  contribution  of  books  to  the  library  trom  all  sources,  since1 
January  8,  1869  (when  our  first  appeal  was  made),  to  date,  have  been 
five  hundred  and  fifty  in  all.  Some  of  these,  although  very  good 
books,  were  quite  unfit  for  the  use  of  a  librarv  like  ours,  and  many 
of  such  were  given  to  the  A.  M.  R.  Sabbath  School,  while  others 
were  changed  for  books  more  suitable  for  our  purpose. 

Idie  Association  was  organized  October  5,  1868,  with  eleven  mem 
bers,  and  legalized  by  articles  of  incorporation,  March  30,  1 869. 
The  library  opened  April  13,  1861;,  and  there  has  been  a  total  of  241 
books  drawn  therefrom  by  subscribers. 

The  Association  has  steadily  increased  in  numbers  and  influence, 
until,  to-dav,  we  have  no  less  than  102  financial  members,  one  book- 


AUToiJlOCkAPll  Y    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.  l6l 

case,  512  books,  and  $53.78  in  the  treasury,  all  free  from 
any  incumbrance  whatever.  The  undersigned  would  do  injustice 
to  his  feelings  and  bridle  the  truth,  did  he  not,  in  closing  this  report, 
vouchsafe  his  unfeigned  and  heartfelt  thanks  to  the  members  of  the 
association,  the  city  press,  and  the  public,  who  have  supported  the 
institution  from  first  to  last,  and,  without  whose  support  and  influ 
ence,  his  efforts  would  have  been  fruitless,  and  to  assure  the  many 
friends  of  his  and  the  library  movements,  who,  by  their  votes  cast  at 
the  late  election,  which  has  resulted  in  the  re-election  of  himself  and 
his  supporters  on  the  association  ticket,  that  he  and  they  esteem  it 
as  another  mark  of  the  people's  confidence  and  approbation,  and  it 
enables  us  to  indulge  in  the  pleasant  prophecy  that  the  success  of 
the  association,  during  the  incoming  year,  will  comport  with  the 
expectations  of  its  most  sanguine  friends. 

\Y.  II.  JOIIXSON, 

President. 


ALT, ANY,  October  19,  1869. 

The  secretary  and  treasurer's  report  shows  the  total  amount 
received  from  all  sources,  since  October  5,  1868,  to  have  been 
$21  !.<)<);  amount  expended,  $158.21;  cash  balance,  $53.78. 


Al<  >RN  ixc  EXPRESS. 

WEDNESDAY,  Xo-i'cinbcr  29,  1871. 
(Amusements.) 

Albany  Literary  Association.  This  Association  will  inaugurate 
its  fall  and  winter  series  of  entertainments  with  a  literary  and  musi 
cal  fete  to-morrow  (Thanksgiving)  evening,  at  the  Chestnut  Street 
Baptist  church.  The  program  comprises  readings,  addresses,  reci 
tations  and  vocal  music,  with  piano  accompaniment.  Wm.  H. 
Johnson,  Esq.,  will  deliver  an  address  on  "Society,"  and  John  O. 
Allen  011  "  Thanksgiving,"  while  Misses  Abbie  Van  Vranken,  A. 
Satchell,  Julia  E.  La  Tour,  Mary  H.  Matthews  and  Julia  B.  Crosby 
will  read  and  sing  choice  selections.  The  entertainment  will 
undonbtedlv  be  very  interesting  and  instructive.  Admission, 
twenty-five  cents. 

11 


102  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON. 

I  ).\i  LY   KNICKERBOCKER. 
ALMANY,  KRIDAY  MORXIXT.,  Xoi'cinhcr  17,   1871. 

7  he  A  cgro  Soldier. 

Shall    llis   Services    I>e    Rewarded?  —  An    Application    for    [anitor 

of  the  Senate. 

During  the  late  war  for  the  t'nion,  none  will  (|iiestion  that  the  col 
ored  troops  fought  bravely.  And  none  among  those  who  entered 
the  service  acted  with  a  nobler  spirit  than  William  II.  Johnson,  the 
well-known  barber,  of  this  city.  In  1861.  when  the  call  for  volun 
teers  was  made.  Mr.  Johnson  shouldered  a  musket  and  proceeded 
to  Washington  with  the  Second  Connecticut  Regiment  on  a  three 
months'  campaign.  This  was  a  white  regiment,  and  the  mustering 
officer  refused  to  muster  Mr.  Johnson.  Notwithstanding  this  fact, 
he  went  out  anyway,  and  did  faithful  duty.  When  the  regiment 
returned  home,  Mr.  Johnson  went  to  the  front  with  the  Righth 
Connecticut,  and  with  that  body  took  part  in  the  famous  battle  of 
Roanoke,  under  ( ieneral  lUirnside.  and  was  commended  for  his 
bravery  by  every  officer  in  the  command,  lie  then  came  to  Albany, 
and  did  more  towards  enlisting  colored  men  than  any  other.  Tn 
fact,  it  was  under  his  advice  and  direction,  that  all  the  colored 
troops  left  this  citv.  Me  stands  high  to-day  among  the  colored 
population  of  Albany,  and  devotes  the  greater  portion  of  his  time 
to  the  advancement  of  men  of  color,  as  good,  law-abiding  citizens. 
He  was  born  in  Alexandria,  and  is  self-educated.  He  is  withal  an 
active  Republican  and  hard  worker  for  the  principles  of  that  party 
among  his  fellows,  l/nder  these  circumstances.  Mr.  Johnson  pre 
sents  himself  before  the  members  of  the  Republican  party,  and  the 
next  Legislature  in  particular,  for  the  position  of  janitor  to  the  Sen 
ate  chamber.  The  question  now  is:  Shall  the  services  he  has  ren 
dered  to  his  country  and  his  party  be  rewarded?  Mis  claim  is  cer 
tainly  deserving  of  recognition,  and  we  hope  it  will  receive  due 
attention. 


ALHAXY   RYKXIXC  JOTUXAL. 

TrKSDAY,  January  2,  1871. 

(Organization  of  the  Senate.) 

The  Republican  caucus  united  upon   Mr.  Terwilliger,  as  clerk  of 
the  Senate,  without  the  formality  of  a  ballot.     This  unanimity  was 


Al'TOIilOGKAI'IIY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IIHXRV    JoHXSOX.  163 

a  compliment  to  his  experience  and  skill,  which  had  been  earned  bv 
long1  and  faithful  service. 

The  subordinate  officers  are  gentlemen  of  conceded  personal 
merit,  who  will  discharge  their  several  trusts  with  courtesy  and 
fidelitv.  Albanians  will  verv  heartily  acquiesce  in  the  selection  of 
William  H.  Johnson,  a  colored  Republican,  for  the  position  of  jani 
tor.  It  was  a  just  and  right  thing  to  do. 


TIIK  PRESS. 

SUNDAY,  January  7,   1872. 

The  Senate  appointed  a  colored  man  named  Johnson,  keeper  of 
the  Senate  chamber.  The  appointment  gives  great  satisfaction  to  a 
large  number  of  our  citizens;  but  it  has  been  intimated  that  a  poorer 
man  would  have  been  more  acceptable. 


ALHAXY,  X.  Y.,  May  10,  1873. 
A  RF.M  LxisrKxcF  OF  TIIK  LATF  WAR. 

(By  \Ym.  11.  Johnson,  of  Albany.) 

While  our  regiment,  the  Second  Connecticut,  was  stationed  at 
Camp  Mansfield,  on  Seventh  street,  Washington,  1).  C.,  in  the  early 
part  of  lime.  1861,  six  fugitive  slaves  came  into  the  cam]);  they  were 
one-half  of  a  dozen  who  had  escaped  from  Flliott  Mills,  Md.,  believ 
ing,  as  they  did,  that  if  they  could  gain  the  Cnion  lines  they  would 
be  free:  and,  acting  upon  this  assumption,  six  of  the  number  went 
into  the  cam])  of  the  Fourteenth  Xew  York  Regiment,  of  Brooklyn. 
commanded  by  Colonel  Wood,  and  six  came  into  our  camp.  A 
few  davs  later  a  letter  appeared  in  one  of  the  Washington  papers, 
written  by  the  chaplain  of  our  regiment,  in  which  the  writer  con 
gratulated  the  anti-slaver}'  cause  upon  the  fact  that  the  slaves  were 
aroused  and  fully  understood  the  situation,  and  that  they  were  com 
ing  into  our  lines  and  would  contribute  greatly  to  the  success  of  the 
Cnion  cause,  and  instanced  the  fact  that  these  men  were  in  those 
regiments.  This  letter  furnished  just  the  information  that  the  mas 
ters  of  these  slaves  most  desired,  and  they  at  once  betook  themselves 
to  the  task  of  seeking  out  and  reclaiming  their  chattel  property. 
They  applied  to  Ceneral  Mansfield,  then  commanding  the  post  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  and  obtained  from  him  an  order  reclaiming 
their  property,  if  found  within  his  lines.  Being  armed  with  that 
order  thev  made  a  raid  upon  the  camp  of  the  Fourteenth  Brooklyn 


104  AL'TOmOGkAtHY    Ot    l)k.    WILLIAM    1IKNRY    JOHNSoK. 

Regiment,  and,  with  the  consent  of  Colonel  Wood,  the  slaves  were 
captured,  placed  in  irons,  and,  under  escort  of  a  detachment  of  the 
regiment,  returned  to  their  masters.     The  news  of  the  return  of  these 
men  soon  reached  us,  and,  in  anticipation  of  a  like  raid  being  made 
upon  our  camp  for  the  capture  of  the  six  therein,  it  was  at  once 
arranged  by  Messrs.  Henry  Cross,  Edward  Huitt  and  myself  that 
the  men  should  remain  in  camp  during  the  night,  but   should  be 
passed  over  the  lines  and  remain  in  the  adjacent  wood  during  the 
daytime;  and  in  this  way  we  hoped  to  be  able  to  successfully  frus 
trate  the  purposes  of  the  slave  hunters.     .Hut,  almost  before  we  had 
time  to  perfect  our  plans,  our  camp  was  visited  by  the  masters  of 
the  men,  officers  of  the  city  government,  and  an  aid  from  headquar 
ters,  bearing  an  order  from  General  Mansfield  to  Colonel  Terry,  our 
commandant,  demanding  the  rendition  of  the  slaves,  if  found  in  his 
camp.     The  colonel  (Terry )  thereupon  issued  an  order,  commanding 
all  the  colored  men  in  the  regiment  to  report  to  his  headquarters 
upon  the  instant.     This  course  was  suggested  by  the  colonel,  who 
would  not  allow  the  camp  to  be  searched,  as  the  slave  hunters  desired 
to.     The  colonel  assured  the  southerners  that  when  the  men  mus 
tered  in  front  of  his  headquarters,  if  their  slaves  were  among  the 
number,  that  they  would  be  at  liberty  to  identify  and  take  them 
away.     The  order  was  given  to  Captain  Gore,  of  a  Hartford  com 
pany,  to  execute.     The  captain  passed  the  order  along  the  line  of 
the  officers'  and  privates'  tents,  and  the  colored  men — -their  being 
many  such  connected  with  the  regiment  in  different  capacities  —  all 
responded,  and  at  once  reported  to  the  colonel,  excepting  the  slaves. 
Messrs.  Cross,  Huitt  and  myself,  the  former  being  over  the  lines  in 
the  wood,  and  we  being  determined  not  to  obey  the  order  at  that 
time,  but  to  fight  the  thing  "  out  on  that  line,  if  it  took  all  summer." 
When  the  captain  gave  us  the  order,  we  flatly  refused  to  obey;  this 
very  much  enraged  him,  and  I,  being  spokesman  for  the  other  two 
and  myself,  he  resolved  to  drive  me  up  at  the  point  of  the  sword; 
and,  suiting  the  action  to  the  thought,  he  drew  his  side  arm,  and 
commanded  me  to  "  right  about  face,  and  march,"  and  I,  in  return. 
drew  my  revolver,  and,  placing  myself  in  a  position  of  defense,  defied 
the  gallant  captain  to  advance.     He,  deeming  "  discretion  the  better 
part  of  valor,"  left  me,  and   went  in  search   of  assistance,   and    [ 
went    out    upon    the    parade    ground,    where    Lieutenant-Colonel 
Young     was     drilling     the     regiment     in     battalion     movements, 
and     informed     my     friend.     Captain     Frank     Chester,     that     my 
arrest     had     been     ordered,     and     that,     too,     at     the     instance 
of     slave     hunters;     and,     that     being     at     one     time     a     resident 
of  Alexandria,  Ya.,  1  was  not  sure  but  that  my  personal  liberty  was 


AUTonioc.RAprrY  OF  DR.   WILLIAM   ITKXRY  jonxsox.         165 

in  jeopardy,  and  in  a  loud  tone  of  voice  entreated  protection  for 
nivself  and  for  the  slaves  at  the  hands  of  my  old  comrades  of  the 
regiment  that  had  marched  from  the  green  fields  of  free  Connecticut 
to  uphold  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of  the  Union,  and  to  beat  back  and 
trample  under  foot  the  rebels  of  the  South. 

The  sympathies  of  the  regiment  were  at  once  enlisted,  and  each 
man  resolved  for  himself  not  to  suffer  the  same  or  a  like  indignity 
and  disgrace  to  stain  the  fair  escutcheon  of  his  regiment  which  had 
besmeared  that  of  the  Fourteenth  Xew  York,  and  then,  in  company 
with  Captain  Chester,  backed  by  almost  the  entire  regiment.  1  went 
to  the  colonel's  headquarters,  where  T  was  at  once  confronted  with 
the  slave  hunters,  whom  T,  in  measured  tones,  denounced  and  defied. 
I  informed  them  that  they  would  not  find  any  sympathy  or  comfort 
in  that  regiment  in  their  hellish  design  to  enslave  their  fellow-man, 
and  that  it  was  our  fixed  purpose  never  to  allow  in  our  camp  a 
human  being  to  be  branded  as  a  slave,  let  it  cost  what  it  might:  and 
that  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  good  old  Nutmeg  State  of  Connecticut 
protected  everv  man  in  his  personal  liberty,  wherever  it  covered  him, 
N'orth  or  South.  This  determined  action  on  the  part  of  Messrs. 
Cross,  Huitt  and  myself,  sanctioned,  as  it  was,  by  the  almost  unani 
mous  sentiment  of  the  regiment,  had  the  effect  of  expelling  from 
our  camp  the  slave  hunters  and  rendering  their  further  search  in 
that  direction  hopeless,  and  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  being  able  to 
carrv  to  Connecticut  with  us  on  our  return  north,  not  only  these  six 
fugitives  from  Klliott  Mills,  but  nine  others  taken  from  Falls  Church 
and  Upton  Hill.  Virginia.  Some  of  the  same  men,  I  am  told,  are 
now  worthy  and  good  citizens  of  Xew  Haven  and  Xew  London, 
Conn.  The  most  pleasant  feature  of  the  entire  affair  is  that  the 
course  pursued  by  us  in  this  matter  met  with  the  hearty  approval  of 
Col.  A.  H.  Terry,  a  nobler  and  better  man,  a  more  humane  soldier, 
and  a  more  thorough  Christian  gentleman  and  philanthropist,  I 
never  had  the  pleasure  to  meet.  At  a  later  date,  when  in  Xew  Lon 
don  county,  Conn.,  the  question  of  the  colonel's  approbation  of  my 
course  being  raised,  he  wrote  me  the  following  note  at  my  request; 
it  speaks  for  itself  (God  bless  Colonel  [now  General]  A.  IT.  Terry. 
of  Fort  Fisher  fame) : 

XKW  HAYKX,  August  23,  1861. 
MR.  WILLIAM  H.  TOHXSOX: 

DEAR  SIR. —  With  a  great  deal  of  respect  for  you,  I  send  you  my 
autograph,  as  you  have  desired. 

Very  truly  yours, 

ALFRED  H.  TERRY. 
—  [Progressive  American,  Xew  York,  September  31,  1861. 


[66  Al-Tor.IOr.KAIMlY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IIKXRV    JOJIXSOX. 

Ai.i'.AXY,  December  4,  iNh^. 

This  is  to  certify  that  \\"illiani  II.  Johnson,  recruiting  agent,  has 
presented  Thomas  Hall,  who  has  been  enlisted  this  day  to  serve  in 
the  Twentieth  Regiment  I'.  S.  Colored  Troops,  and  has  received  the 
county  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars. 

().  COLE, 

i'api.  and  I'ro.  Mar.   i_|///  Disl.  S.  X.   >'., 
Mustering  Officer. 


2^2    \Yl-:ST    TwHXTY-Sl  NTH     STKKKT, 

XKW  YORK,  July  j<j,   1^/5. 
WM.  H.  jonxsox,  Eso.: 

DEAR  SIR. —  I  have  just  returned  from  Rome.  Italy,  with  a  large 
number  of  works  of  sculpture  and  among  them  is  a  life-size  bust  of 
our  noble  Sumner.  It  is  highly  spoken  of.  !  have  received  orders 
for  a  number  of  them  from  many  friends  and  old  admirers  of  the 
deceased,  but  much  loved,  champion  of  freedom.  Dear  old  Mr. 
Hudson,  of  this  city,  has  ordered  one  for  himself,  and  he  thinks  that 
you  would  likely  be  pleased  with  a  life-size  bust  of  the  distinguished 
patriot.  He  says  that  he  is  led  to  think  so,  because  you  have,  to  a 
greater  degree  than  any  other  colored  man,  emulated  the  noble 
example  of  Mr.  Sumner  by  your  public  labor  in  the  civil  rights 
cause  in  this  State,  which,  by  the  way.  you  know,  was  the  home  of 
my  birth.  Indeed,  Mr.  Hudson  speaks  so  highly  of  your  worth  and 
public  works,  that  I  am  deeply  interested,  and,  together  with  him 
and  other  friends  here,  are  most  willing  to  do  something  toward 
causing  the  bust  of  Sumner  to  be  presented  to  you.  The  price  of 
the  bust  is  two  hundred  dollars  ($200). 

Xow,  sir.  if  yon  would  like  to  have  one.  1  do  not  hesitate  to  assure 
yon,  from  what  I  know  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  yon  are  held  by 
the  good  old  anti-slavery  people  here  and  in  Albany,  that  I  can,  if 
I  would,  and  1  TC///,  if  yon  say  so,  raise  by  subscription  sufficient 
funds  to  remunerate  me  for  the  bust.  Xow,  sir,  when  the  bust  is 
subscribed  for  and  presented  to  you,  in  some  hall  or  church,  as  you 
may  see  fit,  we  will  expect  a  good  big  speech  from  you,  that  will 
carry  us  back  to  the  best  days  of  our  lamented  Sumner.  A  favor 
able  reply  is  awaited  by 

Yours  sincerely, 

EDMONIA  LEWIS. 


<  HAl.'LES  II.  LAXSIN<;.  Jii., 

Of  Kinys  County,  Temporary   Chairman  of   the 
Cleveland  State  League  Convention, 


THOMAS  II.  L>IG<;S.  E^}., 
Colored  Leader  of  Albany  Democracy. 


I 


THK  NEW  YOHK  S'i'ATE  CLEVELAND  LEAGUE' 

At  the  Stale  Street  Entrance  to  the  (Government  BuilUinir,  Albany,  N.  V.,  May  26,  1892, 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.  169 

MY  VERY  DEAR  AND  MUCH  ESTEEMED  Miss  EDMONIA  LEWIS: 

Your  favor  of  the  twenty-ninth  ultimo  is  at  hand,  and  I  hasten  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  same,  and  to  assure  you  that  I  am 
profoundly  sensible  of  the  great  honor  done  me  by  your  distin 
guished  recollections  of  my  unworthy  services;  you  are  also  pleased 
to  inform  me  that  you  have  just  returned  from  Rome,  with  a  large 
number  of  works  of  art,  and  among  them  life-size  bust  of  the  dis 
tinguished  and  lamented  Sumner,  and  that  you  have  had  orders  for 
several;  that  it  has  been  suggested  to  you  that  I  would  like  to  have 
a  bust  of  our  honorable  Sumner,  and  you  also  inform  me  that  you 
are  willing,  with  other  friends,  to  undertake  the  trouble  to  raise  by 
subscription  sufficient  funds  to  pay  for  the  bust  and  cause  the  same 
to  be  presented  to  me. 

Dear  Miss  Lewis,  the  information  conveyed  to  me  in  your  kind 
letter,  touching  your  successful  mission,  and  the  happy  accomplish 
ment  of  your  artistic  work  at  Rome,  deserves  and  receives  my  pro 
found  and  heartfelt  congratulation,  as  was  also  the  flattering  men 
tion  you  make  of  my  fitness  to  be  the  recipient  of  so  valuable  a 
mark  of  esteem  of  my  fellow-citizens  of  Xew  York,  place  me  under 
renewed  and  lasting  obligations  to  you  and  to  Air.  Hudson  and  to 
all  others  interested. 

To  simply  say  that  1  would  be  delighted  to  be  the  possessor  of  a 
life-size  bust  of  the  dead  Senator,  and  to  assure  you  that  1  would 
be  proud  to  know  that  that  work  of  art  was  the  creation  of  your 
talent  and  labor,  would  but  faintly  express  my  true  feeling;  still, 
language  at  my  command  is  inadequate  to  express  more.  With 
distinguished  consideration,  I  have  the  honor  to  remain 

Yours  truly, 

W.  H.  JOHNSON,  27  Maiden  Lane. 

Albany.  August  3,  18/5. 


THE  ARGUS. 
ALBANY,  WEDNESDAY,  August  25,  1875. 

(Testimonial  to  Wm.  H.  Johnson.) 

The  African  M.  E.  church,  in  Hamilton  street,  was  last  evening 
the  scene  of  a  pleasant  gathering.  There  had  collected  there  before 
eight  o'clock  a  large  number  of  the  friends  of  Wm.  H.  Johnson,  Esq., 
including  a  number  of  our  prominent  citizens  who  have  admired 
the  course  of  Mr.  Johnson  in  relation  to  the  emancipation  of  his  race. 


170  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    FIEXRY    JOHNSON. 

In  consideration  of  his  valuable  services  in  that  connection,  and  as  a 
slight  testimonial  of  their  regard  and  esteem,  it  was  determined  to 
present  Mr.  Johnson  a  life-size  bust  of  the  late  lion.  Charles  Sunnier, 
whose  illustrious  example  he  was  humbly  endeavoring  to  follow. 
This  gift  was  very  appropriate  in  this  respect,  not  only,  but  for  the 
reason  that  it  was  executed  by  a  colored  artist.  Miss  Fdmonia  Lewis, 
at  Rome.  The  exercises  in  connection  with  the  presentation  were 
very  pleasing,  and  were  opened  with  an  overture  on  the  piano,  "  Le 
(  irand  Entertainment,"  by  Master  S.  Lippit.  after  which  a  brief,  but 
appropriate,  introductory  address  of  welcome  was  delivered  bv  Mr. 
(i.  \Y.  Johnson,  chairman  of  the  meeting. 

The  followin     exercises  were  then     one  throuh  with: 


Prayer  ......................................  Rev.    |.  A. 

Solo  ........................................  Miss  J.  M.  Latour 

Reading  —  Freedom  ......................  Miss  A.   X.  Chapman 

Solo  ......................................  Mr.   I>.   F.  Combash 

(  )verture,  Piano  —  Grand  Honor  Le'  Patriot.  .Miss  A.  M.  Chapman 
During  the  performance  of  which  the  artist,  Miss  Fdmonia  Lewis, 

of  Rome,   Italy,  unveiled  the  bust. 
Presentation  and  address  ......................  F.  \Y.  Crosby,  Jr. 

Duet  —  Beautiful  Venice  ...........  Misses  Latour  and  Thompson 

Reading  —  Sunnier  .........................  Miss  M.  ().  Crosby 

Solo  ....................................  Miss  (  ).  F.  Thompson 

Recitation  —  Battle  ..........................  Charles   H.    Butler 

Trio.  .  .Mr.  S.  H.  Mando,  Misses  J.  M.  Latour  and  (  ).  V..  Thompson 

The  presentation  address  of  Mr.  F.  \V.  Crosby  was  most  admira 
bly  suited  to  the  occasion,  and  commanded,  throughout  its  delivery, 
the  closest  attention  of  his  auditors.  It  dwelt  upon  the  character  of 
the  late  distinguished  statesman,  and  gave  a  very  clear  insight  into 
his  life  and  services.  In  response  to  the  presentation  address,  Mr. 
Johnson,  the  recipient  of  the  honors  of  the  evening,  feelingly  and 
appropriately  responded  at  considerable  length.  He  alluded  to  the 
humble  part  he  had  taken  in  the  grand  work  laid  out  by  Mr.  Sum- 
ner,  remarked  that  he  made  no  pretensions  to  being  called  the  cham 
pion  of  his  race.  In  conclusion,  he  read  the  letter  of  Miss  Lewis, 
the  sculptress,  to  himself,  in  relation  to  the  bust  and  its  presentation, 
and  his  own  response  thereto.  The  exercises,  which  were  a  fitting 
recognition  of  the  valuable  services  of  Mr.  Johnson  in  the  emanci 
pation  of  his  race,  were  brought  to  a  close  with  a  benediction  by  Rev. 
I).  Dorrell.  At  their  conclusion  the  company  was  served  with 
refreshments,  to  which  ample  justice  was  done.  The  following  gen- 


\.M     IIK.YRY    JOHXSOX.  I/I 

tlemen  acted  as  a  committee  of  arrangements:  Messrs.  Thomas  Llk- 
ins,  Julius  A.  Douge,  \\"illiani  C.  ( iardner,  George  L.  Morgan, 
Charles  II.  I>utler.  Ceorge  \\  .  Johnson,  J.  P.  Hardin.  Benjamin  I;. 
Combash  (I.  Lippit  and  \\'illiam  II.  Anthony. 


I'  i\ 1 1 >.\y ,  ./////('  jo,   i ()(Hi. 
To  flic  Editor  of  the  Journal : 

I  Mease  permit  me  to  say  a  word  through  vour  columns,  touching 
the  eloquent  and  well-delivered  sermon,  last  Sunday,  bv  that  great, 
good  man  of  our  city,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Prundage.  His  subject  was: 

Is  the  Xegro  a  Man?"  The  doctor  takes  high  ground,  and  the 
basis  of  his  subject  was  justice  to  the  "  Xegro  as  a  Citizen."  The 
doctor  is  all  right,  and  I  want  to  thanl\  him  for  the  able  and  appreci 
ative  stand  he  has  taken  for  equal  rights.  I  le  is  entitled  to  the  high 
est  commendations  of  my  race,  as  well  as  that  of  all  good  citizens 
here  and  elsewheiv.  Mis  position  is  sound  and  logical  on  general 
principles.  Still,  I  cannot  be  silent,  when,  by  implication,  the  good 
doctor  is  led  to  criticise  and  condemn  what  he  regards  as  social  dis 
crimination  on  the  part  of  our  white  citizens.  If  he  knew  as  much 
about  that  subject  as  I  do,  he  would  not  have  included  the  mislead 
ing  sentence  in  his  otherwise  masterly  address.  I  quote  him  rvr- 
bcithn,  and  denv  the  truth  of  the'  assertion,  and  am  prepared  to  prove 
that  the  reverse  is  true.  The  doctor  savs:  "  A  Xegro  in  our  city  - 
a  high-minded,  cultivated  gentleman,  whose  wife  is  a  refined  woman, 
a  true  lady,  has  found  it  almost  impossible  to  secure  a  respectable 
home  in  Albany.  Real  estate  agents  will  not  and  cannot  rent  him 
a  house  anywhere  except  in  the  poorer  quarters  of  the  city." 

This  is  misleading.  I  declare,  and  that  with  emphasis,  without 
fear  of  contradiction  from  am  source,  that  the  city  of  Albany  is  as 
free  from  social  prejudice  as  any  city  in  the  I  nited  States;  that 
good,  industrious,  intelligent,  well-disposed  Xegroes  are  treated 
as  well,  on  general  principles,  as  thev  deserve  or  desire  to  be  treated. 
They  can  buy  property  or  rent  houses  in  any  quarter  of  the  city,  if 
possessed  with  the  collateral  and  the  requisite  character  and 
reputation. 

WILLIAM  H.  JOHXSOX, 

21/   Maiden  Lane. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    TOfTNSON. 


TlIl'RSDAY,    .IllgliSl   2,     K/K). 

('I  Ionic1  versus  Foreign  Missions.) 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Journal: 

The  other  day  I  was  handed  a  little  bi-monthly  magazine.  Its  title 
is  "The  Work  at  Home."  It  is  the  official  organ  of  the  Albany  Citv 
Tract  and  Missionary  Society.  It  is  the  January  and  !;cbruarv  edi 
tion,  Vol.  25,  Xo.  i.  The  title  of  this  little  leaflet  struck  me  forcibly. 
"  \York  at  home."  missionary  "  work  at  home."  I  perused  its 
fourteen  pages  with  interest.  1  had  been  reading  the  rumors  of 
massacre  of  Christian  missionaries  in  far-off  China.  I  was  thinking 
what  a  pity  it  was  to  spend  so  much  money  and  sacrifice  so  many 
precious  American  lives  in  the  useless  and  fruitless  endeavor  to 
Christianize  the  Chinese,  whose  origin  and  development  render  them 
almost  hopelessly  beyond  the  purview  of  Christianity.  "  The  work 
at  home  "  is  one  that  ought  to  appeal  to  every  Albanian.  On  page 
10,  under  the  caption  of  "  \Yoman's  Auxiliary,"  1  notice  the  follow 
ing1  item:  "  Airs.  Van  Aucken,  matron  of  the  Boys'  lodging-house." 
The  name  brought  vividly  to  my  mind  a  Mr.  \Y.  E.  Van  Aucken 
whom  1  knew  years  ago.  He  was  then  engaged  with  the  late  S.  R. 
dray,  in  the  Bible  and  book  publishing  business  on  State  street. 
My  curiosity  was  aroused.  ''The  work  at  home"  and  the  Van 
Aucken  name  ran  pleasantly  in  my  mind.  A  few  evenings  later. 
while  meandering  along  upper  Broadway,  I  observed  a  lettered  sign 
hanging  against  the  front  of  the  three-story  and  high  basement 
brick  building,  Xo.  712.  at  the  head  of  Spencer  street,  and  opposite 
the  Hotel  Yendome.  It  read:  "Boys'  lodging  house;  open  from 
five  till  ten  p.  M.  Accommodations  for  boys  and  men."  "  The 
work  at  home''  and  the  name  "  Van  Aucken  "  came  fresh  again  to 
my  mind,  and  I  ventured  to  mount  the  high  stone  steps  that  led  to 
the  main  approach  and  to  ring  the  bell.  The  door  was  almost 
immediately  opened,  and  by  my  old  friend,  W.  E.  Van  Aucken.  He 
greeted  me  cordially  and  invited  me  to  enter.  After  a  short  rest, 
he  conducted  me  all  over  the  home  for  boys  and  men.  Eirst  we 
visited  the  basement.  The  large  front  room  is  used  as  a  dining  hall. 
In  the  rear  is  the  kitchen  and  a  pantry  with  an  ice  chest,  and  on  the 
other  side  of  the  hall  is  a  hot  air  furnace.  It  is  of  sufficient  capacity 
to  warm  the  entire  house  in  the  coldest  weather. 

There  are  also  on  this  floor  bath  and  toilet  rooms,  with  hot  and 
cold  water  in  abundance.  Ascending  to  the  principal  floor,  we 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OK    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.  173 

entered,  through  the  large,  airy  hall,  the  parlor,  a  room  twenty-five 
In  forty  feet.  It  contains  a  large  reading  table  covered  all  over 
with  good  reading  matter,  a  bookcase,  easy  chairs,  looking-glass, 
a  square  piano  and  pictures.  I  saw  a  portrait  of  Gladstone  and  one 
of  Garfield.  These  were  the  gifts  of  friends.  There  is  room  for 
more.  1  would  have  been  pleased  had  1  seen  in  these  boys'  rooms 
the  portraits  of  Washington,  Lincoln  and  Grant.  There  is,  how 
ever,  a  striking  reminder  everywhere  of  the  Christian  missionary 
work  of  this  branch  of  the  City  Tract  and  Missionary  Society.  1 
noticed  on  the  walls  such  mottoes  as  "Welcome,"  "In  God  We 
Trust,"  "  Christ  said,  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  ar.d 
forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God,"  with  other 
reminders  of  God's  gracious  providence.  On  this  floor  are  recep 
tion  and  office  rooms,  also  the  living  apartments  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Aucken,  their  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter.  On  the  sec 
ond  floor  are  the  boys'  sleeping  rooms,  four  in  all,  containing  twenty 
steel  wire  cots  and  as  many  hair  mattresses.  On  the  third  floor  is 
the  same  number  of  rooms  and  beds  for  men.  The  men  and  boys 
are  on  different  floors  and  absolutely  separate  from  each  other. 
Everything  in  sight  betokened  rest  and  comfort.  This  is  mission 
ary  work  at  home,  as  conducted  in  Albany  by  the  City  Tract  and 
Missionary  Society,  whose  office  is  in  Douw's  Building,  corner  of 
Broadway  and  State  street.  Xo  clean,  hopeful  boy  need  go  bedless 
or  without  a  good  warm  breakfast  if  he  possesses  a  dime.  The 
dime  is  charged  only  for  those  whose  means  are  limited,  but  who  are 
too  manly  to  beg. 

Mr.  Van  Aucken  assured  me  that  no  good  boy  or  sober  man,  if 
ever  so  indigent,  is  turned  away  from  the  home  at  night,  whether 
the  dime  is  forthcoming  or  not.     God  bless  these  good  people  — 
those  that  conduct  the  City  Tract  and  Missionary  work  at  home. 

WILLIAM   IT.   IOJ1XSOX. 


CLUP.  WOMEN   AT  THE  C  API  Tor.. 
First  Day's  Sessions  of  the  Federation  —  Xegro  Delegate. 

Mrs.  William  Tod  Ilelmuth,  president  of  the  Xew  York  State 
Federation  of  Woman's  Clubs,  took  up  her  position  at  9  o'clock 
yesterday  morning  in  the  chair  of  the  Assembly  Chamber,  with  the 
very  dainty  blue  and  silver  bonnet  exactly  in  the  center  of  the  coat- 
of-arms  of  Xew  York  State,  between  the  Liberty  and  Justice 
figures.  The  speaker's  desk  was  flanked  by  g-orgeous  bouquets  — 


1^4  AI'TOI'.IOCK. \1MIV     OK     DR.     WILLIAM     IIKNRV    JOllXSoX. 

American  IJcauty  roses  sent  by  the  Albany  Mothers'  Club,  and 
yellow  chrysanthemums,  and  the  semi-circle  of  seats  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Legislature  blossomed  with  rows  of  millinery.  The 
gathering  was  not  a  large  one,  and  the  credentials  committee  had 
its  hands  full  in  distributing  the  prettv  green  and  white  badges  lo 
proud  delegates. 

The  morning  session  was  chiefly  devoted  to  the  necessary  red 
tape  and  roll  call,  but  it  served  to  introduce  several  notable  women 
-Rev.  Antoinette  Blackwell,  who  gave  the  invocation,  for 
instance  —  and  it  included  Airs.  Helmuth's  address,  which  occupied 
two  columns  in  the  afternoon  papers,  reviewed  the  progress  of 
woman's  clubs  since  1868,  quoted  Mrs.  Browning,  and  was  from 
every  standpoint  just  what  a  woman's  club  federation  president's 
address  should  be. 

The  most  interesting  woman  in  this  gathering,  representing  the 
two  hundred  and  four  federated  clubs  of  this  State,  was  Mrs. 
X.  Jerome  Jeffreys,  of  the  Home  Association  of  Rochester,  the  onlv 
Negro  delegate  to  the  federation  convention.  Mrs.  Jeffreys  is  a 
teacher  of  music,  active  in  the  work  of  the  Rochester  association, 
a  refined  and  earnest  woman,  and  she  was  courteously  received  by 
the  club  women  vesterday,  granted  every  privilege  of  the  floor  and 
was  an  attentive  listener  at  both  sessions,  seated  in  the  midst  of 
a  group  of  society  women.  Mrs.  Jeffreys  is  the  only  Xegro  mem 
ber  of  the  club  she  represents.  All  discussion  of  the  "color  ques 
tion,"  the  one  element  of  possible  excitement  in  this  peaceful 
gathering,  had  been  avoided  by  the  diplomatic  decision  of  the 
executive  committee,  which,  as  before  stated,  refused  to  entertain 
the  protests  of  the  Rochester  Home  Association  and  the  L'tica 
Xew  Century  Club,  anent  the  Milwaukee  convention's  action  on  the 
color  question,  on  the  ground  that  there  had  been  no  official  action 
on  the  part  of  the  national  body,  and  "  no  cognizance  could  be  taken 
of  rumors."  I'nder  the  head  of  "important  business,"  at  the  after 
noon  session,  full  opportunity  was  given  for  motions  and  speeches 
from  the  floor,  but  the  "color  question"  was  not  introduced,  and 
Mrs.  Jeffreys  sat  quietly  and  interestedly  till  adjournment —  [The 
Argus,  Albany.  X.  Y.,  X'ovember  14.  1900. 

\Ye  are  pleased  to  note  the  honor  paid  the  Race  by  the  Xew 
York  Federation  of  \Yoman's  Clubs,  now  in  session  in  this  city. 
The  courteous  and  just  treatment  of  Mrs.  Jeffreys  is  especially 
gratifying,  because  of  the  fact  that  she  is  well  known  and  highly 
respected  here  where  she  and  her  husband,  Mr.  X.  Jerome  Jeffreys, 
resided  for  manv  vears. 


Ai'ToniooRAiMi  Y  OF   DR.   WILLIAM    IIFXRY  JOHNSON.         175 

STATK   FHDKRATIOX   KLKCTS  (  )FFICKRS  AND  ADJOTRXS. 

\\'ith  a  dinner  given  last  night  by  Mrs.  William  Tod  Helmuth,  to 
tlie  outgoing  and  incoming  officers,  the  sixth  annual  convention  of 
the  Xe\v  York  State  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  passed  into 
history. 

The  Federation  opens  upon  another  year  of  work  with  the  follow 
ing  new  staff  of  officers: 

President  —  Mrs.   Cornelius  Zabriskie,   Brooklyn. 

First   Vice-President — Mrs.  Charles  M.   Dow,  Jamestown. 

Second   Vice- President  —  Miss  Lucy  C.  Watson.   L'tica. 

Recording  Secretary — Mrs.  Arthur  Ford,  ( )neonta. 

Corresponding  Secretarv  —  Mrs.   Van  Loon  Lynch.  Syracuse. 

Treasurer  —  Mrs.   William   Eastwood,   Rochester. 

( ieneral  Federation  Secretarv  —  Miss  Anna  Maxwell  Jones, 
Saratoga  Springs. 

The  four  members  of  the  executive  board  for  1900-1902 — Mrs. 
William  Goodridge,  Flushing;  Mrs.  Wolcott  J.  Humphrey,  War 
saw;  Mrs.  A.  T.  Campbell.  Binghamton;  Mrs.  William  H.  Seward. 
Auburn.  To  till  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Mrs. 
Dow  from  the  executive  board,  which  holds  over  another  year. 
Mrs.  Harry  Hastings,  of  Xew  York,  was  appointed,  which  gives  the 
following  personnel  to  the  executive  board  of  1899-1901:  Mrs. 
\\estover  Alden,  Xew  York  citv;  Mrs.  S.  H.  Lamed,  Syracuse; 
Mrs.  George  W.  Townsend,  Buffalo;  Mrs.  Harry  Hastings.  Xew 
York  city. 

Standing  committee  for  the  nomination  of  the  four  officers  of  the 
executive  board  next  year:  Miss  Ellen  Miles,  of  Xew  York;  Mrs. 
Mary  Leavenworth,  of  Syracuse;  Mrs.  Bertha  X.  D.  Lester,  of 
Saratoga:  Dr.  Ida  Bender,  of  Buffalo:  Mrs.  W.  C.  Gouinlock.  of 
Warsaw. —  [The  Argus,  Albany.  X.  Y.,  X'ovember  17,  1900. 


HAMPTOX  XOKMAL  AND  AGRICULTURAL   IXSTITTTF. 
HAMPTON.   VA..   Xoi'ciubcr    13.    1900. 

M  R.  j< HIN  ( i.  MYERS: 

DFAR  SIR. —  We  send  enclosed  a  letter  fiom  Claudius  Pitt,  your 
Hampton  scholarship  student.  He  was  promoted  to  the  senior 
class  at  the  close  of  the  school  last  June,  and  will,  if  nothing 
happens,  complete  our  academic  course  this  year.  It  is  yet  early  in 


176  Al/'roniOGRAPJlY    01-     DR.    WILLIAM    TIEXRY    JOll.VSoN. 

the  term  to  report  on  his  progress,  but  judging  from  the  record  lie 
made  last  year,  he  will  do  well. 

Thanking  you  most  heartily  for  all   that  your  kind   gift  of  two 
years  ago  is  making  possible  for  him.  1  am, 

Sincerely  yours, 

M.  J.  SHERMAN. 


.HAMPTON  NORMAL  AND  AGRICULTURAL   INSTITI:TK. 

HAMPTON,    \  A.,  November    12,    1900. 
MR.  MYERS: 

KIND  FRIEND. —  Again  I  enjoy  even  more  than  ever  the  privi 
lege  of  writing  to  you  in  the  behalf  of  your  kindness  which  you 
have  shown  to  me  bv  paying  my  scholarship  during  the  time  I  have 
been  at  Hampton. 

1  received  the  letter  that  you  sent  to  me  last  term,  and  my  greatest 
effort  is  to  follow  your  instructions  by  preparing  myself  to  be  the 
man  that  will  best  meet  the  demands  of  my  people  here  in  the 
South. 

When  1  first  wrote  to  you  I  did  not  thoroughly  realize  what  it 
meant  to  have  some  one  pay  my  scholarship,  but  now  I  can  readily 
see  what  a  great  importance  it  is  to  a  poor  boy  to  be  helped  through 
school,  therefore,  1  feel  very  grateful  towards  you  and  send  many 
thanks  for  aiding  me  through  this  school. 

I  have  tried,  and,  to  a  great  extent,  have  made  the  best  use  of 
every  opportunity  that  has  presented  itself  to  me  since  1  have  been 
here,  and  by  so  doing  I  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  be  promoted  at 
the  end  of  each  term. 

This  is  now  my  senior  term,  and  the  one  in  which  1  am  to  finish 
the  academic  course. 

Of  course  1  found  it  necessary  to  study  hard  while  1  was  in  the 
middle  class  in  order  to  get  a  broad  grasp  of  things  and  to  come  up 
to  the  requirements  of  the  class,  but  this  term  it  means  a  great  deal 
more  than  that  because  I  am  preparing  now  to  make  a  start  in  life, 
and  1  am  to  think  of  the  best  possible  way  in  which  I  can  do  the 
most  for  my  people  and  succeed  in  the  effort. 

J  spent  my  vacation  in  the  city  of  Norfolk,  and  while  I  was  there 
I  worked  in  the  cooper  shop,  as  coopering  is  my  trade. 

It  has  not  been  very  long  since  I  have  returned  to  school  and  \ 
was  very  glad  to  get  back  and  find  that  so  man}'  fellow  students 
have  returned. 


Al'TOP.HXlK. \IMIV    OK     1>R.     WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.  177 

This  school  is  situated  on  the  peninsula,  near  ( )ld  Point  Com 
fort,  facing"  the  Hampton  Roads,  and  besides  a  great  historic 
importance,  it  is  indeed  one  of  the  most  beautiful  places  in  the 
South,  and,  I  think,  if  you  would  visit  the  school,  you  would  wit 
ness  the  same,  and  I  am  sure  you  would  have  no  cause  to  regret 
your  trip. 

In  conclusion,  1  want  to  emphasize  my  thanks  to  you  for  your 
kindness,  and  trust  that  by  it  you  may  receive  the  richest  blessings 
of  Our  Heavenly  Father. 

Your  respectfully, 

CLAUDIUS   N.   PITT. 


REPUBLICAN   STATE  COMMITTEE, 

NK\V   YORK,   Xwciubcr    15.    ujoo. 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  1  have  your  good  favor  of  recent  date  before  me. 
in  reply  allow  me  to  say  that  I  have  no  "cuts"  of  myself,  but  you 
may  be  able  to  obtain  one  by  applying  to  my  good  friend,  Mr.  J.  F. 
IJruce.  of  your  city. 

Let  me  take  this  occasion  to  congratulate  you  on  the  great 
victory  of  the  sixth,  in  which  you  took  such  a  prominent  part.  1 
also  desire  to  express  the  hope  that  your  forthcoming  auto 
biography  will  be  as  profitable  financially,  as  it  will  be  interesting. 
Few  men  of  the  race,  now  living,  have  seen  so  much  history  made, 
and  few  of  any  race  have  taken  so  active  a  part  in  the  great  move 
ments  which  have  made  for  larger  liberty  and  more  exact  justice  in 
this  country. 

Yours  truly, 

CHARLES    \V.   AXDKRSOX. 

To  DR.  \Y\i.  11.  JOHNSON. 

\\  e  regret  that  we  did  not  succeed  in  getting  Mr.  Anderson's 
"  cut."  His  efforts  along  State,  National  and  Race  lines  deserve 
the  highest  commendation  from  all  the  people. 


Al'TOIilOGRAPIlY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ALBANY  EVENING  TIMES. 

(Tuesday,  December  5,  187.1.) 

The  committee  on  the  Free  Academy  reported  adversely  to  the 
petition  of  William  H.  Johnson  and  others,  asking  that  the  gradu 
ates  of  the  Wilberforce  School  be  admitted  to  the  academy  upon  the 
same  terms  and  rules  as  those  of  other  schools.  On  motion  of 
Mr.  Edwards,  the  petition  and  report  were  ordered  printed. 

77/t1  Free  Academy. 

If  any  new  proof  were  needed  of  the  fact  that  the  "  Free 
Academy  "  is  a  misnomer,  it  was  afforded  by  the  action  of  the 
Hoard  of  Public  Instruction  last  evening  in  rejection  of  the  petition 
for  the  admission  of  colored  pupils.  There  are  a  number  of  very 
respectable  colored  people  in  this  city,  all  of  whom  pay  taxes 
directly  or  indirectly,  and  some  of  whom  are  men  of  wealth  and  pay 
heavy  taxes.  Is  it  not  the  height  of  meanness  and  injustice  to  take 
money  of  these  people  to  furnish  to  a  few  privileged  white  children 
the  "  higher  instruction  "  which  is  denied  to  the  children  of  colored 
taxpayers? 

MORNING  EXPR ESS. 

(Wednesday,  December  6,   1871.) 

THE  RIGHTS  OE  COLORED  PUPILS. 

The  Board  of  Public  Instruction  of  this  city  have  committed 
an  unwise  and  illiberal  act  in  deciding  that  graduates  of  the  \Vilber- 
force  Colored  Public  School  shall  not  be  addmitted  to  the  Free 
Academy.  And  the  decision  is  not  only  unwise  but,  we  believe, 
illegal.  The  law  authorizing  the  establishment  of  separate  schools 
for  colored  children  expressly  provides  that  "  such  school  or  schools 
shall  be  supported  in  the  same  manner  and  to  the  same  extent  as 
schools  for  the  white  children,  and  they  shall  be  subject  to  the 
same  rules  and  regulations,  and  be  furnished  with  facilities  for 
instruction  equal  to  those  furnished  the  white  schools."  (See  sec 
tion  i,  title  10,  Code  of  Public  Instruction.) 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     IILXRY    JOHNSON.  170, 

1  )  A  I  L  Y    K  N I C  K  E  R  1 5  0  C  K  1C  k . 

(Albany,  December  7,   1871.) 

A  DM  ITT  IXC,     Til  1C     XlCdRO. 

The  Board  of  Public  Instruction  in  this  city  is,  \ve  think,  assuming- 
loo  much.  Where  it  obtained  the  power  to  exclude  the  children  of 
the  colored  people  from  the  Free  Academy,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  know. 
If  colored  children  advance  l<>  the  decree  that,  in  white  children, 
open  the  doors  of  the  Academy  to  them,  we  do  not.  understand 
where  the  Hoard  of  Public  Instruction  obtains  the  power  to  shut 
the  negroes  out  from  the  schools.  This  decision  of  the  Board  has 
main  warm  supporters  in  quarters  they  were  least  looked  for. 
When  the  quarrel,  of  admitting  colored  children  into  schools,  was 
in  progress  in  other  places,  manv  people  in  Albany  watched  the 
contest  with  interest,  and  thought  it  shameful  that  so  much  trouble 
.should  be  made  over  such  a  matter.  Then  the  quarrel  removed 
a  long  wavs  from  them,  and  they  could  sympathize  with  the  "  poor 
black"  who  was  struggling  for  an  education.  Xow,  the  "poor 
black  "  is  knocking  at  our  door  for  admittance;  and  those  who  were 
wannest  in  his  behalf,  when  it  was  thought  he  would  not  trouble  us 
for  rears,  are  now  the  slowest  towards  opening  the  doors. 


ALP.AXY   KYICXIXC;  TTMKS. 
('Tuesday,  April  2,   1872.) 

}  I'STICK  TO  I'OLORKI)   IVl'l  LS. 

As  there  were  some  inaccuracies  in  the  reports  published  by  the 
morning  papers,  concerning  the  action  of  the  Hoard  of  Public 
Instruction,  on  the  question  of  admitting  colored  pupils  into  the 
Free  Academy,  we  give  room  to  the  subjoined  official  report.  It- 
will  be  seen  that  there  is  not  to  be  an  indiscriminate  admission  of 
colored  pupils,  but  those  who  have  first  successfully  passed  through 
the  probation  of  the  Wilberforcc  School  are  hereafter  to  be  exam 
ined  in  the  same  manner  as  the  advanced  pupils  of  the  public 
schools  generally,  and  then,  if  found  worth}'  and  well  qualified,  they 
are  to  be  received  in  the  Free  Academy.  We  have  always  under 
stood  that  this  was  all  that  Mr.  Johnson  and  other  representative 
colored  men  demanded.  If  the  pupils  of  the  Wilberforce  cannot 
pass  a  fair  examination  on  an  equal  footing  with  white  children. 
thev  will  not  expect  to  be  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  Free 
Academy. 


.BOARD  OF   lYi-.ur   [NSTRUCTION. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction,  held  on  ilie  .;th 
of  March,  18/2,  Mr.  Treadwell  offered  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  laid  upon  the  table: 

Resolved,  That  the  resolution  adopted  June  7.  i«S6<j.  in  the  follow 
ing  words,  viz.: 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient  at  the  present  time  to  admit  the 
scholars  of  the  Wilberforce  School  as  pupils  into  the  Free  Academy, 
be  and  the  same  hereby  is  repealed." 

At  a  meeting"  held  last  evening  (April  first),  the  resolution  was 
called  up  and  adopted. 

Whereupon,  the  following  report  was  made  and  adopted: 


AlJ'.AXY    EVEXIXG  TlMKS. 

(Wednesday,  April  3,  1872.) 

7  //c  Hoard  o1  Public  Instruction  —  History  of  Hie  Movement  for  .  Id  mis 
sion  of  Colored  Pupils  in  the  J:ree  .Icaa'cinv. 

At  a  request  of  a  citizen,  who  claims  to  be  interested  in  the  Free 
Academy,  we  publish  from  the  official  records  the  following 
proceedings: 

June  7,  1869. —  On  motion  of  Mr.  Treadwell,  it  was  resolved. 
That  it  is  inexpedient,  at  the  present  time,  to  admit  the  scholars  of 
the  Wilberforce  School  as  pupils  into  the  Free  Academy. 

Xovember6.  1871. —  A  memorial  signed  bv  William  11.  John 
son  and  others,  asking  the  Board  so  to  amend  their  rules  to  admit 
competent  pupils  of  the  Wilberforce  School  to  the  Free  Academv. 
was  read  and  referred  to  the  executive  committee  of  the  Free 
Academy. 

December  4,  1871. —  Mr.  Carpenter,  on  behalf  of  the  executive 
committee  on  the  Free  Academy,  made  the  following  report,  which 
was  accepted,  and,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Edwards,  was  laid  on  the 
table: 

ALBAXV,  December  4.    1871. 
To  the  Hoard  of  Public  Instruction: 

The  executive  committee  on  the  Free  Academy,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  petition  of  William  H.  Johnson  and  others,  respectfully 
report  that  the  Board  already  have  taken  action  upon  the  subject- 
matter  of  the  petition  and  adopted  rules  and  regulations  applicable 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.  l8f 

thereto.  They  do  not  think  that  the  change  would  be  of  advantage 
either  to  the  petitioners  or  to  the  schools. 

The  committee,  therefore,  ask  to  be  discharged  from  the  further 
consideration  of  the  subject. 

(  )n  motion  of  Mr.  Eastern,  it  was  ordered  that  the  petition  of 
\\illiam  II.  [ohnson  and  others  be  entered  upon  and  printed  with 
the  minutes. 

HOARD  <)!••   Prp.Lic   INSTRUCTION, 

ALIJANY,  April  18,   1872. 

I  he  executive  committee  un  the  Free  Academy,  to  whom  was 
recommitted  a  report  made  by  them  December  4,  1871,  on  the 
petition  of  William  H.  Johnson  and  others,  asking  that  children 
from  the  Wilberforce  School  may  be  admitted  on  examination  into 
the  free  academy,  respectfully  submit  the  following  report: 

The  committee  have  been  controlled  in  their  action  by  resolution 
of  June  7,  1869,  and  at  the  examinations  of  pupils  for  admission 
into  the.  Free  Academy,  have  not  notified  the  principal  of  the  Wilber 
force  School.  It  is  proper  to  say,  however,  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  committee,  founded  upon  the  annual  examinations,  there  have 
not  been,  heretofore,  any  of  the  Wilberforce  pupils  sufficiently 
advanced  to  sustain  the  required  test. 

The  Hoard  having  repealed  the  resolution  of  June  17,  1869,  and 
the  law  now  prohibiting  any  distinction  being  made  between  pupils 
of  the  different  public  schools,  giving  to  all  that  may  be  prepared, 
the  privileges  of  the  academy,  the  committee  recommend  that  here 
after  the  pupils  of  the  Wilberforce  School  be  examined  with  those 
of  other  schools,  and,  if  found  worth}'  of  the  promotion,  that  they 
be  received  into  the  Free  Academy. 

(Signed.)  GE(  WGE  W.  CARPENTER, 

fOHN  G.  TREADWELL, 
ROBERT  X.  WATERMAN, 

Executive  Committee  on  Free  Academy. 


ALBANY  MORNING  EXPRESS. 
(Monday,  January  27,  1873.) 

MEETING    OF    COLORED    CITIZENS    RELATIVE    TO    THE    SCHOOL 

QUESTION. 

There  will  be  a  meeting  of  the  colored  citizens  held  in  the  vestry 
•  »f  the  ( 'hestnut  street  Baptist  church,  this  evening  at  8  o'clock.       The 


IcSj  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HKNRY    JOHNS*  ).\. 

object  of  the  meeting  is  to  obtain  a  free  and  untrammeled  opinion 
in  favor  or  against  the  present  separate  school  system  as  applied  to 
the  colored  people.  All  friends  of  education  are  earnestly  invited  to 
attend. 

\\iii.   II.  Johnson.   R.   H.  Jackson,   Robert  Jackson,  \Yni.   K. 

(iardner.    \\'m.   Storrs,   B.    1>.    Paul.    \Ym.    1.1.   Anthony. 

K.  \Y.  Crosby,  John  Chambers.  Thomas  Sickles,    l>.    K. 

Mclntvre,   |.  11.  Devo,  F.  \"an  Yranken,  B.   Uariniet. 


ALBANY   MORN  INC  EXTRKSS. 
(\\'ednesday,  January  29,   1873.) 

MHKTIXC  OF  COLORED  CITI/KXS  AT  TIM-:  CIILSTNTT  STREET 
l>. \rnsT  CiirRui,  MONDAY  EVEXIXG — Disrussrox  ox  TIII-: 
RK.MT  OF  ADMISSION  OF  COLORED  CHILDREN  INTO  TIIF.  Par.Lic: 
SCHOOLS. 

A  meeting  of  colored  citizens  was  held  Monday  evening,  at  the 
Chestnut  street  Baptist  church,  for  the  discussion  of  the  question 
as  to  the  right  of  admission  of  colored  children  into  the  public 
schools.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Mr.  William  11. 
Johnson:  Mr.  Robert  Jackson  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Mr.  I).  B. 
Paul  acted  as  secretary.  The  chairman  stated  the  object  of  the 
meeting  in  a  few  remarks  and  thanked  the  audience  for  the  honor 
conferred. 

Mr.  \Ym.  .11.  (ohnson  was  introduced,  and  said  he  was  not  in  favor 
of  doing  away  with  the  \Yilberforce  School,  but  he  wished  the  ques 
tion  of  equalitv  settled.  Me  was  not  particularly  anxious  to  send 
his  children  to  the  district  schools,  but  there  was  a  question  of  right 
involved  which  he  desired  to  see  tested,  lie  wanted  the  rights  of  his 
children  recognized  and  he  did  not  see  how  he  was  infringing  upon 
the  rights  of  the  white  children  in  asking  that  a  restriction  on 
account  of  color  be  abolished.  He  said  that  no  formal  application 
had  been  presented  to  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction  for  admission 
into  the  public  schools  because  the  law  was  against  us,  but  he 
thanked  (iod  that  the  time  had  now7  come  when  the  Legislature  is 
willing  to  repeal  any  obnoxious  la\v.  We  have  the  assurance  from 
the  Board  of  Education  that  they  will,  upon  formal  application, 
abrogate  the  obnoxious  restriction.  Now  is  the  time  to  act. 

Air.  Robert  Mclntyre  moved  the  following  resolution: 

Rcsoh'dl,  That  we  are  in  favor  of  sending  our  children  to  the 
schools  in  our  respective  districts. 


•JOHN   A.  HOWE,  JR.. 
lhanv    Countv    Treasure i 


JAMES  CLARK. 


L.  ftENSLER. 


PETEK  A.  ELLIOTT 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.  185 

Mr.  Paul  offered  the  following  as  a  substitute  to  Mr.  Mclntyre's 
resolution : 

Whereas,  A  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  McHarg,  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Instruction,  to  admit  colored  children  to  the  schools,  is  of 
paramount  importance,  and  largely  concerns  the  present  and  future 
of  the  colored  race  of  Albany;  and. 

IVhercas,  The  spirit  of  the  said  resolution,  in  our  opinion,  is  in 
union  with  the  progressive  and  liberal  tendency  of  the  age,  and  in 
accordance  with  the  laws  and  Constitution  of  our  country;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  after  mature  and  deliberate  consideration  of  the 
effect  of  the  adoption  by  the  board  of  the  said  resolution,  desire  to 
express,  as  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  its  unqualified  approval  of  the 
same. 

After  addresses  from  Messrs.  Mason.  Williams,  Anthony  and 
Cutter,  the  substitute  offered  by  Mr.  Paul  was  adopted. 

Mr.  Johnson  moved  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  by 
the  Chair,  whose  business  it  shall  be  to  have  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting  properly  engrossed  and  signed  by  the  officers  of  this  meet 
ing,  and  by  as  many  of  the  citizens  as  may  desire,  and  presented  to 
the  Board  of  Public  Instruction,  which  was  carried. 

The  Chair  appointed  \V.  H.  Johnson,  James  Dyer  and  U.  I).  Paul, 
as  such  committee.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  then  tendered  the  Chair, 
after  which  the  meeting  dispersed. 


ALIJANY  KYKXI.\<;    JOURNAL. 
(Wednesday  evening,   March    19.    1873.) 

HOARD  OF    PUJJLIC   INSTRUCTION. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved.  Mr. 
McPIarg  called  up  his  resolution  from  the  table  in  relation  to  colored 
children  being  admitted  to  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Keyes  offered  an  amendment  to  the  original  resolution  by 
adding  to  the  same  the  words  "  and  after  the  ensuing  summer  vaca 
tion  the  Wilberforce  School  shall  be  abolished." 

The  amendment  brought  up  discussion.  It  was  claimed  on  the 
one  side  that  the  colored  citizens  did  not  wish  to  have  the  \Yilber- 
force  School:  thev  merelv  wished  that  their  children  be  allowed  to 
enter  the  public  schools.  (  )n  the  other  hand  it  was  advocated  that 
if  colored  children  were  allowed  to  enter  the  public  schools  a  school 
should  not  be  maintained  expressly  for  them  anv  more  than  one 
should  be  maintained  fur  Irish.  German  or  French  children.  The 


1 86  ArTOr.lOGRAPITY    OF    T)R.    WILLIAM    IIEXRV    JOTIXSOX. 

words  after  the  ensuing  summer  vacation  were  finally  stricken  out, 
and  the  words  "  on  the  first  day  of  May  "  substituted. 

I  he  amendment  \vas  then  adopted,  and  the  question  arose  on  the 
resolution  as  amended. 

Mr.  McHarg  hoped  that  this  resolution  would  pass  at  it  was 
simply  giving  our  colored  citizens  justice.  Colored  citizens  .and 
the  taxpayers  should  be  allowed  equal  rights  with  the  white  citizens. 
It  was  for  this  board  to  decide,  and  they  should  lay  all  prejudices 
aside  and  vote  for  the  right,  for  this  resolution.  1  send  my  children 
to  the  public  schools  and  if  colored  children  are  admitted  they  shall 
not  remain  at  home. 

Mr.  Saunders  —  What  would  you  do  if  they  were  placed  in  the 
same  seat  with  your  children;  how  would  you  like  that? 

Mr.  McHarg —  That  would  make  no  difference,  they  would  go 
to  the  school  just  the  same,  if  the  teachers  should  so  seat  them;  it  is 
nothing  more  than  justice.  (Sensation.) 

The  debate  was  continued  at  some  length,  but  no  new  theories 
were  advanced. 

Finally,  Mr.  O'Leary  rose  to  a  point  of  order.  He  claimed  that 
the  discussion  was  out  of  order,  that  the  resolution  should  be 
referred  to  the  committee  on  rules  and  regulations. 

The  president  decided  that  the  point  of  order  was  not  well  taken. 

Mr.  McHarg  then  moved  that  the  resolution  be  referred  to  the 
committee  on  rules  and  regulations,  and  that  it  be  reported  imme 
diately  to  this  body.  (Lost.) 

Mr.  Saunders  moved  to  adjourn.     (Lost.') 

Mr.  O'Leary  said  that  he  should  vote  against  this  motion,  as  lie 
was  not  in  favor  of  abolishing  the  Wilberforce  School.  The 
colored  people  had  their  own  churches,  and  they  wanted  their  own 
school.  Mr.  Johnson  had  told  him  thev  wished  this,  had  told  him  so 
to-day. 

Mr.  Hayes  —  Mr.  Johnson  had  said  he  was  well  pleased  witli  the 
idea  of  admitting  colored  children  to  the  public  schools,  but,  as 
far  as  he  was  concerned  individually,  he  did  not  care  for  the  change. 
He  said,  also,  very  emphatically:  We  are  asking  for  our  rights. 
Let  the  \Yilberforce  School  be  abolished,  but  give  us  our  rights. 

Mr.  O'Leary  said  he  understood  that,  if  the  Wilberforce 
School  was  abolished,  the  colored  citizens  would  petition  for  its 
re-establishment. 


AfTOT'.iOCR. XT'IIV    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     TIKXRY    JOHXSOX.  187 

MoRxrx<;  EXPRESS. 

(Wednesday,  March  in,  1873.) 

KR KK  SCHOOLS. 

The  vexed  question  whether  the  colored  children  shall  be  admitted 
to  our  public  schools  upon  the  same  terms  as  other  children,  was 
finally  decided  in  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction  last  night.  The 
resolution  offered  by  Commissioner  McIIarg  some  weeks  ago. 
amended  upon  motion  of  Commissioner  Keves,  by  providing-  for 
i he  abolition  of  the  separate  colored  school,  after  the  first  of  Mav 
next,  were  adopted  by  a  vote  of  seven  to  live. 

I  he  vote  stood  as  follows: 

Kor  the  Resolution. —  Messrs.  1).  L.  Babcock.  Kaston,  Haves, 
lloyt.  Keyes,  Lewi,  Mcliarg. 

Against  the  Resolution. —  Messrs.  [.  L.  Babcock.  McKenna, 
'  /'Leary,  Sanders,  Senrick. 

All  the  affirmative  votes  are  those  of  Republicans,  except  that 
of  Mr.  Hayes.  The  five  negative  votes  are  those  of  Democrats. 

And  so  our  schools  are  at  last  free  to  all. 

They  ought  to  have  been  so  long  ago! 


LKTTKKS  TO  TH  K   EDITOR. 

\  iews  of  a  Colored  Citizen   Regarding  the  Abolition  of  \\~ilberforce 

School. 

/  c  flic  Editor  of  flic  .\lhan\  livening  'I  lines: 

SIR. —  It  having  been  suggested  through  the  columns  of  the 
public  press  that  white  children  are  much  exercised  over  the  fact 
that  colored  children  are  to  enter  the  district  schools  after  the  first 
of  May,  and  that  some  children  talk  of  withdrawing  altogether 
from  the  public  schools  when  this  event  does  take  place,  it  may  not 
be  improper  for  me  (desiring,  as  T  do,  always  to  be  properly  under 
stood)  to  say  a  word  on  this  subject,  in  order  that  the  public  should 
be  put  right  on  the  question  of  the  change,  and  1  have  to  assure  you 
that  this  state  of  affairs  is  by  no  means  to  be  charged  to  the  account 
of  the  colored  people.  The  close  of  the  Wilberforce  School  was  not 
at  any  time  sought  by  us.  The  fact  is  that  a  large  majority  of  un 
people  have  been,  and  are  now,  satisfied  by  the  management  of  that 
school,  under  the  present  teachers,  and  did  not  seek  any  change, 
further  than  the  establishment  of  the  principle  of  equal  rights. 


I  88  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

Sonic  were  not  satisfied  to  send  their  children  to  so  great  a  distance, 
and  they  sought  to  send  them  to  the  district  schools  in  their  imme 
diate  vicinity,  but  they  met  at  the  door  a  prohibition  on  account  of 
their  color.  This  wrong,  done  to  a  few.  was  justly  made  the  cause 
of  all;  yet,  though  we  all  asked  for  the  removal  of  the  restriction. 
none  asked  for  the  abolition  of  the  \Vilberforce  School;  and,  if  it 
had  been  continued  by  the  l>oard  of  Public  Instruction,  who  alone 
are  responsible  for  its  abolition,  I  feel  safe  in  assuming  that,  for 
a  time  at  least,  the  colored  children  almost  unanimously  would  have' 
attended  that  school,  and  the  change,  if  any.  would  have  been 
gradual  and  much  of  the  bad  feeling  now  engendered  would  have 
been  obviated.  \Ye  were  naturally  restive  under  the  stigma  of  a 
prohibition,  based  upon  the  different  color  of  our  faces;  but,  when 
that  prohibition  was  removed,  the  case  (as  all  can  see)  became  quite 
different.  1  regret,  not  for  mine  or  for  the  colored  children 
especially,  but  for  the  good  feeling  which  ought  to  exist  between 
scholars  generally,  that  the  amendment  offered  by  Mr.  Commis 
sioner  Keyes,  to  close  the  Wilberforce  School  after  the  summer 
vacation,  did  not  prevail,  and,  while  1  consider  that  the  gradual 
change  would  have  been  the  better  plan,  still,  1  am  quite  satisfied 
with  the  change,  not  sought  by  us,  but  made  by  the  board,  upon  the 
ground  of  economy:  and,  I  believe,  that  the  opposition  on  the  part 
of  white  children  to  the  colored  ones  entering  the  district  schools, 
when  this  is  done  by  the  mandates  of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruc 
tion,  will  end  in  about  a  nine  days'  wonder,  after  the  thing  has  to 
be  met. 

W.  H.  JOHNSON'. 
Albany.  "March  31,  1873. 


'OinOGRAPIIY    OF    I>R.     \VILLTAM     IIEXRV    JOIIXSOX.  189 


'  CHAPTER  XIII. 

The    Honorable   Jid-^'in    D.    Morgan.    Chairman    National    Republican 
I L. \-ccnti~rc  Committee,  \'cw  York  City: 

SIR. —  The  undersigned  have  the  honor  to  introduce  to  von 
William  H.  Johnson,  an  earnest  and  efficient  public  speaker  and 
worker  in  behalf  of  the  Republican  party.  We  recommend  him  to 
your  favorable  consideration  as  a  ht  and  proper  person  to  canvass 
( me  or  more  of  the  southern  States  in  the  interest  of  the  partv. 
We  have  the  pleasure,  etc. 

Saratoga.  X.  Y.,  August  5.  1872. 

lames  Wood,  W.  S.  Dickinson,  Thos.  T.  Chatfeal,  Wm.  Fos 
ter.  L.  L.  Lewis,  A.  C.  Mc.Gowan.  Aug.  Weismann,  '[.  H.  Graham, 
V..  C.  Benedict.  Henrv  Smith.  Xelson  \\.  Hopkins,  I.  H.  Ramsex , 
(/has.  1.  Folger,  C.  H.  Adams,  1.  A".  Baker.  Jr.,  \\'.  H.  Robertson. 
( ieo.  Bowen.  E.  }d.  Madden,  fohn  C".  Perry.  Samuel  S.  Lowery. 
D.  G.  Wood.,  X.  Winslow.  R.  W.  Palmer,  w".  Wagner,  \V.  Mullen, 
Matthew  Hale,  Thomas  W.  (  )lcott,  Chas.  R.  Dayton,  (ieo.  S.  Batch- 
eller,  Robert  Harlan.  of  Ohio:  R.  P.  Lathrop,  president  Republican 
General  Committee,  Albany  county;  C.  I).  Rathbone,  vice-president 
Republican  General  Committee.  Albany  county;  Charles  F.  Smith. 
Albanv  Evening  journal ;  Addison  A.  Keyes,  Albany  Morning 
Express;  L.  Bradford  Prince,  chairman  of  Queens  County  Republi 
can  Committee;  John  H.  Reynolds,  Albany;  William  E.  Matthews. 
Baltimore,  Md.;  Thos.  J.  Powers,  Philadelphia,  lja. :  James  T.  Brad 
ford,  Path,  Md.;  Henry  L.  Lamb,  Troy  Times,  X.  V.;  Charles  S. 
Spencer,  New  York  city:  H.  R.  Pierson,  Albany;  John  Hastings, 
Knickerbocker,  Albany,  X.  Y.:  J.  M.  Bailey.  Albany:  Thos.  Flkins. 
Albanv,  X.  Y. 


MORXIXG  EXPRESS. 

(Saturday.  April   13,   1872.) 

COLORED  REPI'MKICAX  COMMITTEE. 

At  the  Colored  Republican  count}'  convention,  held  Tuesday, 
April  9th,  1872,  the  following-named  citizens  were  elected  perma 
nent  officers,  to  hold  office  for  one  year,  and  to  constitute  an  execu 
tive  committee: 


io.o        AfToiHodk. \IMIY  OF   DR.  WILLIAM    IIHXRY  jonxsox. 

President,  Leonard  li.  [ackson;  hrst  vice-president,  John  (  ). 
Allen,  second  vice-president,  George  L.  Morgan;  third  vice-presi 
dent,  Robert  F.  Mclntyre;  fourth  vice-president,  Isaac  II.  Benjamin; 
secretary,  George  W.  Johnson;  corresponding  secretaries,  Menjamin 
I).  Paul,  Gideon  Lippitt;  treasurer,  William  II.  Johnson. 

\\'illiam  IT.  Johnson,  George  W.  Johnson  and  J.  ( '.  Matthews 
were  elected  delegates  to  represent  this  district  in  the  State  Council, 
to  be  held  in  the  citv  of  Trov,  Mav  eighth. 


ALP.AXY  KVKXINT,  POST. 
(Wednesday,  March  6,  i8<)5.) 

]  )o  re,  LASS'    M  KM  o  RIAL. 
The  ILvcrcises  at  I  he  Meeting  Los/  fct'ening. 

(The  Address  of  Dr.  \Yni.  II.  Johnson.) 

MR.  CHAIRMAN. —  Frederick  Douglass  was  no  ordinary  individual ; 
he  was  not  a  Xegro,  neither  was  he  a  white  man;  his  mother  was 
black  ;  his  father  was  a  member  of  the  Caucasian  race.  I  )ouglass  was, 
as  has  been  demonstrated,  the  best  product  of  both  races,  owing  as 
much  to  the  one  as  to  the  other.  He  was,  take  him  just  as  he  was,  a 
man.  a  humanitarian,  a  statesman,  a  patriotic  American  citizen; 
never  drawing  the  line  when  dealing  with  public  questions  on  race, 
creed  or  sex. 

Frederick  Douglass  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1817,  died  in  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  February  20,  1895;  was  twice  wedded,  first  to  a  black 
woman,  a  companion  in  bondage,  who  aided  him  in  his  escape. 
When  Douglass  succeeded  in  raising  money  sufficient  for  the  pur 
pose,  he  paid  for  his  own  freedom,  and,  also,  for  that  of  the  choice 
of  his  youth.  The  issue  of  that  union  was  a  daughter  and  three 
sons;  young  Frederick  died  two  vears  ago;  Louis  H.  and  Charles  1\.. 
with  their  sister  and  step-mother,  survive  him. 

His  second  wife,  Miss  Pitts,  the  daughter  of  a  distinguished  west 
ern  New  York  man.  who  was  contemporary  with  Douglass  in  the 
old  anti-slave  crusade,  is  a  most  estimable  lady,  a  woman  of  educa 
tion,  refinement  and  literary  attainments  of  no  ordinary  quality. 
Ft  has  been  said  by  some  not  well-informed  gossipers,  that  Douglass 
lost  caste  by  wedding  a  white  woman.  This  is  sheer  nonsense 
Douglass  was  not  black.  He  was  a  man  great  and  distinguished 
among  his  peers,  the  foremost  men  of  the  land,  lie  married  Miss 
Pitts,  the  choice  of  maturity,  not  to  please  disgruntled,  selfish, 


Al'TOniOGK.  \1MIV    OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IILXKY    JoHXSoX.  I  ()  I 

unprincipled  critics,  but  to  emphasize  his  faith  in  the  principle  of 
equality  of  the  human  family.  Frederick  Douglass  could  not  lose 
caste  by  doing  a  proper  thing,  taking  to  his  bosom  a  helpmate  capa 
ble  of  contributing  to  his  intellectual,  social  and  domestic  happiness. 
The  homage  that  is  now  being  paid  to  the  memory  of  this  distin 
guished  character  attests  to  the  love  and  esteem  in  which  he  was 
held. 

There  is  a  peculiar 'fitness  and  great  propriety  in  the  selection  of 
this  historical  site  for  the  performance  of  these  memorial  exercises. 
It  was  in  the  old  City  Hall,  upon  this  consecrated  spot,  that  Fred 
erick  Douglass  delivered  a  speech  of  such  great  power,  eloquence 
and  rare  oratorv  as  to  command  the  undivided  attention  of  his  hear 
ers  and  the  universal  commendation  ol  the  reading  public,  causing 
the  then  (Governor  Washington  Hunt  to  recall  from  the  Legislature 
a  message  he  had  sent  that  body,  recommending  the  appropriation 
of  825.000  per  annum  to  defray  the  expenses  of  deporting  Negroes 
out  of  the  State  of  Xcw  York  to  Liberia.  This  was  in  1852.  The 
same  vear  the  fugitive  slave  la\\  was  passed  bv  a  pro-slavery  Con 
gress  and  signed  by  Millard  Fiilmore.  of  this  State,  then  President 
of  the  Cnited  States. 

Douglass'  voice  of  denunciation  was  again  heard  in  this  historic 
hall,  upon  this  spot,  in  condemning  the  passage  of  the  act  and  its 
attempted  enforcement,  as  a  crime  against  God  and  mankind, 
lie  declared,  with  stentorious  voice,  with  firm  and  deter 
mined  emphasis,  that.  "  So  help  me,  God,"  there  shall  be 
a  stubborn  resistance  to  the  enforcement  of  the  law,  and 
that,  no  slave  v\ould  be  returned  to  his  master  without 
the  penaltv  of  a  Mow  of  human  blood.  Douglass  went  from  here: 
he  visited  almost  every  town  and  citv  in  the  State,  proclaiming 
against  the  outrageous  fugitive  slave  law.  So  effective  was  his 
crusade  against  the  measure  that,  to  the  credit  of  the  commonwealth 
the  escutcheon  of  the  great  Empire  State  was  not  tarnished  by  the 
return  of  a  single  fugitive  slave. 

These  were  dark  clays  for  the  Xegro.  Douglass  was  not  one.  but 
he  had  been  a  slave.  He  was  a  man  built  up  in  the  image  and  like 
ness  of  his  Creator.  His  education  led  him  justly  to  believe  in  the 
equality  of  the  human  race  and  the  brotherhood  of  mankind.  He 
liked  the  white  man  no  less,  because  he  enjoyed  superior  privileges: 
he  liked  the  Xegro  best,  because  the  black  man  was  the  undermost 
and  weaker  vessel  in  the  political  economy  of  this  then  pro-slavery 
count  rv. 


\()2  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    <>K     DR.     WILLIAM     1LKNRV    JOI1XSON. 

John  Brown's  raid  on  Harper's  Kerry,  in  1859.  formed  the  skirm 
ish  line  to  the  great  rebellion.  Douglass  was  a  central  figure  in 
that  movement.  It  resulted  in  his  enforced  abandonment  of  the 
country  for  a  short  time.  The  war  followed,  slavery  was  abolished, 
the  Xegro  enfranchised;  the  patriots.  John  Brown  and  Douglass, 
are  dead,  the  nation  lives  and  will  remain  unbroken  forever  under 
the  banner  of  freedom  and  equal  rights. 

In  1862  Douglass  recruited  the  first  colored  troops  enlisted  in  this 
city  and  this  State  that  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  Massachusetts 
Fifty-fourth  Regiment,  his  sons.  Louis  H.  and  Charles  R.,  being 
among  the  first  to  enlist.  Lie  had  been  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  first  assistant  to  General  Thomas,  and  was  entrusted  by 
that  officer  with  the  general  oversight  of  the  recruiting  stations  in 
the  United  States  for  the  enlistment  of  colored  men.  (  )ne  of  his 
first  official  acts  was  the  appointment  of  Dr.  Thomas  Llkins,  of  this 
city,  a  general  medical  examiner. 

The  war  hung  fire;  success  was  doubtful.  Fremont.  Hunter. 
Stanton  and  other  patriots  urged  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves  as 
a  necessary  war  measure.  (  )n  the  2ist  day  of  September,  1862, 
President  Lincoln  issued  his  first  proclamation,  notifying  the  rebels 
that  if  they  did  not  lay  down  their  arms  within  the  next  100  days, 
and  acknowledge  the  supremacy  of  the  Union,  that  he  would,  by 
virtue  of  the  power  invested  in  him  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
I'nited  States  army  and  navy,  issue  on  the  first  of  Januarv  a  supple 
mentary  proclamation  emancipating  the  slaves  in  every  State  and 
territory  under  the  domain  of  the  confederacy.  Upon  this 
announcement,  the  oppressed  everywhere,  and  their  sympathizers. 
prepared  for  a  proper  celebration  of  the  issuing  of  this  proclama 
tion.  Frederick  Douglass  was  the  happiest  man  in  the  land;  his 
great  services  as  an  orator  was  in  demand  in  all  the  great  cities. 
He  came  to  this  city  at  the  nominal  fee  of  five  dollars  and  expenses, 
when,  by  going  to  some  other  place,  lie  could  have  demanded  from 
$roo  to  $200  and  expenses. 

The  proclamation  of  emancipation  was  issued  January  i,  1863; 
the  celebration  of  the  event  took  place  in  this  city  January  fifth. 
Douglass  delivered  the  oration  in  commemoration  of  the  emancipa 
tion  proclaim,  which  struck,  by  one  sweep  of  Abraham  Lincoln's 
pen.  the  shackles  from  the  hands  of  nearly  three  million  human 
beings.  Every  able-bodied  male  member  of  that  number,  between 
the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five,  were  clothed,  armed,  equipped, 
and  added  to  the  armed  force  of  the  United  States  on  land  and  on 
sea.  and  turned  against  their  old  masters.  Thus  the  supply  product 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    <  >F     DR.    WILLIAM     IIKXRV    JOHNSON'.  1 CJ3 

and  the  fortifying  motive  power  of  the  South,  on  which  it  had 
depended,  were  transferred  at  one  stroke  to  the  United  States  army 
and  navy. 

Tliis  humane  act  of  Lincoln's  broke  the  back-bone  of  the  rebel 
lion  and  assured  the  success  of  the  Union  cause.  Douglass'  perora 
tion  on  this  great  occasion  culminated  in  his  acclamation,  "  Cod 
bless  honest  old  Abraham  Lincoln." 

In  politics,  Mr.  Douglass  was  first  a  moral  suasion  man.  refrain 
ing  from  voting.  Afterwards  he  affiliated  with  the  more  practical 
Free  Soil  party;  in  1852  he  supported  with  the  might  of  his  voice  and 
his  vote  Hale  and  Julian  on  that  ticket,  against  Scott  and  Graham. 
\Yhigs;  Pierce  and  I  hitler.  Democrats.  In  1854  he  went  with  John 
C.  Fremont  into  the  then  new  Republican  party.  He  maintained 
his  membership  therein  down  to  his  entrance  into  rest.  Still,  he 
was  restless,  manifested  at  various  times  dissatisfaction  with  the  tar 
diness  of  the  party's  dealing  in  the  matter  of  protecting  the  lives  and 
liberties  of  its  wards,  the  freed  people  of  the  South. 

Douglass  was  a  party  man;  never  an  offensive  partisan;  a 
Christian;  never  intolerant.  The  controlling  and  directing  motive 
of  his  great  life  was  the  untiring  efforts  to  elevate  the  black  side  of 
his  humanity  to  an  absolute  indivisible  standard  with  the  white 
side.  To  bring  about  upon  one  broad,  common,  enduring  basis  the 
complete  unit}'  of  the  two  races  of  which  he  formed  the  connecting- 
link. 

lie  never  drew  —  but  endeavored  to  break  the  color  line  in  poli 
tics,  in  religion,  in  everything". 

"  As  long  as  there  remains  a  trace. 
Of  Afric  blood  that  can  be  seen. 
So  long  will  members  of  his  race 

In  memory  keep  him  fresh  and  green. 

Ilis  deeds  will  bright  and  brighter  grow, 
A  household  word  will  be  his  name. 

And  future  generations  know 

The  story  of  Fred.  Douglass'  fame. 

Tears  of  copious  grief  we  shed. 

Standing  by  our  hero's  bier; 
Peace  to  the  ashes  of  the  dead. 

If  lost  to  sisrht.  to  memorv  dear." 


1 


11)4       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  J)R.  WILLIAM  HKXRY  JOHNSON. 

FIRST  ANTI-SLAVERY  MOVKMKXT. 

John  Brown's  intention  was  to  enter  Virginia  with  fifteen  hundred 
men  instead  of  seventeen,  but  his  plans  miscarrying,  as  I  will  show 
you,  without  any  fault  of  his  own,  he  resolved  to  set  a  brilliant 
example  which  he  believed  every  lover  of  liberty  and  humanity 
would  be  eager  to  follow.  In  order  to  properly  understand  John 
Brown  and  his  famous  raid  it  is  necessarv  to  glance  at  the  position 
of  the  anti-slavery  movement  prior  to  his  taking  an  active  part  in  it. 
This  movement  may  be  said  to  have  begun  shortlv  after  the  revolu 
tion.  The  political  interests  of  the  new  republic  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  two  great  parlies,  the  Whigs  and  the  Democrats,  and  each  of 
these  split  into  two  factions.  (  )f  the  Whigs  the  "Silver  dreys" 
were  pro-slavery  in  principle  and  the  "\Yooley  Heads"  were  in 
favor  of  a  compromise.  (  )f  the  Democrats  the  "hunkers"  were 
pro-slavery  men  and  the  "  barn-burners  "  favored  a  compromise. 
The  movement  was  confined  to  political  debates  until  the  murder  of 
Elijah  P.  Lovejoy,  a  young  white  clergyman,  in  the  streets  of  Alton, 
Kentucky,  in  1834,  for  his  active  opposition  to  slavery,  aroused  a 
storm  of  indignation  throughout  the  country,  especially  in  the 
North  and  some  of  the  most  gifted  men  in  the  land  became  active 
supporters  of  the  anti-slavery  movement.  In  1840  Fremont,  Fred 
erick  Douglass,  and  a  number  of  other  staunch  friends  of  the 
enslaved  black  man  established  the  famed  "  Underground  Railroad." 
This  "  Railroad  "  was  simply  a  system  for  smuggling  fugitive  slaves 
from  the  South  up  through  the  North  and  into  Canada.  The  unfor 
tunate  slaves  would  run  away  from  their  brutal  masters  and,  if  they 
succeeded  in  eluding  the  fierce  pursuit  that  was  made  after  them, 
started  on  their  weary  and  desperate  way  to  the  North  and  freedom. 
Men  with  deep  broad  marks  of  the  red-hot  branding  irons  in  their 
flesh,  women  with  the  red  weals  and  scars  of  the  driver's  lash  on 
their  backs;  some  of  them,  with  babes  at  their  breasts,  cowered  like 
hunted  beasts  in  swamps  by  day  and  toiled  along  by  night  following 
the  North  star,  their  only  guide  to  safety,  for  of  the  country  they 
knew  nothing.  When,  at  length,  after  fearful  hardship  and  depriva 
tion,  they  reached  the  Ohio  or  Potomac  river,  good  friends  were 
ready  to  receive  and  succor  them  in  Philadelphia,  to  which  1  had 
moved  from  Albany  in.  1855,  and  though  Frederick  Douglass  was 
my  most  intimate  friend  and  adviser  at  the  time  John  I>rown  organ 
ized  his  National  Vigilance  League,  J  knew  nothing  of  it  until  it 
was  brought  to  my  attention  in  a  startling  fashion  in  August,  1859. 
A  number  of  the  younger  men  connected  with  the  Underground 


Al'T<  HilOCRAI'II  Y    ( >  K     DR.     WILLIAM     I1KXKY    JOHXSOX.  1 95 

Railroad,  including  myself,  had  organized  a  colored  military  com 
pany  in  Philadelphia  called  the  Frank  Johnson  (iiiarcls,  and  it  was 
arranged  that  on  August  i6th  the  company  should  turn  out  about 
eighty  strong,  armed  and  uniformed,  and  after  holding  a  street 
parade  should  picnic  and  hold  a  public  meeting  at  Haddington. 
John  Brown  then  had  his  headquarters  at  Chambersburg,  Penn., 
and  when  he  heard  of  the  proposed  demonstration  did  not  at  all 
approve  of  it  as  the  parading  of  armed  and  disciplined  negro  com 
panies  might  put  the  authorities  on  the  alert,  and  frustrate  his  plans. 
Accordingly  he  came  on  to  Philadelphia  on  the  day  before  the 
parade  to  see  that  at  least  the  affair  passed  off  tamely  or  to  prevent 
it  altogether  if  possible.  The  hand  of  fate  was  against  him.  On 
the  evening  before  the  parade,  ( ieneral  J.  J.  Simons,  of  New  York 
city,  one  of  Brown's  lieutenants,  at  a  public  meeting  held  in  Shiloh 
Presbyterian  church,  Lombard  street,  Philadelphia,  made  a  speech 
in  which  he  commended  the  Xegroes  of  Philadelphia  for  organizing 
a  military  company  and  stated  there  was  a  grand  project  on  foot 
to  invade  the  South,  with  an  army  of  armed  northern  Xegroes  and 
free  the  slaves,  lie  called  for  recruits  for  this  invading  army  from 
the  Xegroes  of  Philadelphia. 

lie  said  they  would  march  through  the  South  with  a  gun  in  one 
hand  and  a  bible  in  the  other.  As  our  military  company  had  been 
organized  more  for  display  than  for  actual  service,  I  made  an  address 
tempering  what  I  thought  was  a  very  hot-headed  speech  on  the  part 
of  the  New  Yorker.  Though  1  did  not  know  it,  John  Brown  was 
sitting  in  the  hall  that  evening  listening  to  Simons  utterly  destroy 
ing  all  his  plans  by  revealing  them.  Late  that  night  I  was  called 
out  of  bed  by  a  message  from  Thomas  Dorsey,  our  leader  in  Phila 
delphia,  asking  me  to  come  to  his  house  at  once  on  most  important 
business.  When  I  got  there  I  found  Frederick  Douglass  and  about 
a  dozen  of  the  anti-slavery  leaders  present  with  a  man  I  did  not 
know.  This  was  an  old  man  of  about  sixty,  tall  and  thin,  but 
muscular.  Me  had  a  very  kindly  face,  but  that  night  there  was  a 
shade  of  deep  sorrow  on  it.  I  was  told  that  he  was  John  Brown. 
1  thought  Brown,  of  whom  I  had  heard  before,  a  most  striking  man 
in  appearance,  and  1  was  surprised  to  see  that  Douglass,  who  always 
took  the  lead  seemed  to  look  up  to  and  defer  to  him.  John  Brown 
spoke  of  his  great  project  and  said  that  Simons'  speech  had  ruined 
all  his  plans,  but  something  should  be  done  to  offset  the  effect  of  the 
publication  of  Simons'  incendiary  utterances  in  the  newspapers. 
Fred  C.  Revels  and  myself  were  slated  to  speak  the  next  day  at  the 
meeting  after  the  parade.  Turning  to  us  Brown  said  in  that  kind 


[96  Ai:Tol!lO(;RAf'II  Y    <>!••     I)k.     WILL  I  AM     IIEXRY    JOIIXSUX. 

hut  firm  and  convincing  tone  of  his:  "  Mr.  Revels  you  will  make1 
a  very  temperate  speech  at  the  meeting  to-morrow,  and  vou  young- 
man,"  to  me.  "  had  better  stay  away  from  it.  Perhaps,  however, 
you  can  think  better  than  you  can  talk;  sit  down  and  write  a  letter 
to  be  read  at  the  meeting  to-morrow."  Fred.  Douglass  also  told 
me  that  it  was  necessary  to  do  so,  and  I  wrote  a  long  letter  advising 
the  members  of  the  military  company  that  they  should  not  depend 
upon  their  arms  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  but  upon  good  reason 
ing  and  a  common-sense  way  of  proving  the  fitness  of  our  people 
to  adorn  the  higher  walks  of  life,  and  to  the  conversion  of  the 
American  people  to  a  true  sense  of  the  many  wrongs  imposed 
upon  us, 

The  parade,  picnic  and  meeting  were  held.  Revels  made  his 
speech,  my  letter  was  read  and  even  Simons  tried  to  mend  the 
mischief  he  made  but  all  without  avail.  The  damage  was  beyond 
remedy  and  John  P>ro\vn's  great  invasion  of  Virginia  was  still 
born.  The  government  believed  that  a  raid  was  imminent  and 
watched  for  it.  and  mobs  of  pro-slavery  men  hung  Xegroes  to  lamp 
posts  and  burned  their  property. 

Predicted  Pciilurc. 

On  October  13th,  1  met  him  again  at  Dorsey's  house,  where  a 
meeting  of  the  leaders  was  again  held.  Captain  Stevens,  who  was 
hung  with  him  at  Charleston,  in  the  following  month,  was  with  him 
that  night.  Me  told  us  that  he  was  about  to  make  a  raid  into 
Virginia.  ".But."  said  he,  "it  will  be  a  failure.  Our  little  band 
will  be  but  the  forlorn  hope  of  what  might  have  been  a  grand 
expedition,  but  blood  must  be  shed  or  the  bonds  of  the  colored  men 
will  never  be  broken."  Frederick  Douglass  had  a  list  of  voting  men 
from  Philadelphia,  who  were  willing  to  join  in  the  raid.  Brown 
asked  him  how  many  of  the  men  were  married  and  Douglass  told 
him.  "Are  you  married?"  he  asked,  turning  to  me.  I  told  him 
I  had  been  married  for  seven  years.  "Have  you  children?"  he 
then  asked.  1  replied  that  I  had  not,  but  expected  to  be  a  father 
in  a  few  weeks.  "  Then  you  can't  go,"  said  he  with  a  sad  smile. 
1  did  not  go,  but  would  have  done  so  if  1  could. —  [Albany  Sunday 
Press,  May  6,  1900. 


MAYOR  TIIACIIKR'S  ACTION   .IN  THE  MATTER  OF  THE  ADMISSION- 
OP  COLORED  PATIENTS  TO  THE  HOMEOPATHIC  HOSPITAL. 

The  little  difficulty  in  relation  to  the  Homeopathic  Hospital  has 
been  arranged  satisfactorily.     Dr.   \V.  IT.  Johnson  was  the  first  to 


Al'TOmoC.RAPIIY    OF    DR.     WILLIAM     HEXRY    JO1IXSOX.  197 

make  complaint  to  .Mayor  Timelier  that  a  woman  had  been  refused 
admittance  because  she  was  black;  the  Mayor  acted  promptly, 
directing  Superintendent  ,\lcl\enna  to  send  no  more  city  patients 
I  here,  white  or  black.  Then  the  trustees  explained  to  the  Mayor 
that  it  was  the  fault  of  the  employes,  but  the  Mayor  did  not  revoke 
his  order  until  requested  to  do  so  by  the  original  complainant  in  a 
letter  published  in  another  column.  The  Mayor  has  shown  a  com 
mendable  sensitiveness  upon  this  point,  and  has  given  an  object 
lesson  in  civil  rights,  which  is  both  instructive  and  beneficial. 
There  must  be  no  color  line  in  the  public  charities. —  [Albany 
Times,  Kebruarv  20,  1888. 

In  the  Times  of  the  same  date  under  the  caption:  "An  order 
revoked.  C'ity  patients  to  be  again  sent  to  the  Homeopathic 
Hospital — Dr.  Johnson's  letter  to  the  Mayor,  and  the  Mayor's 
action."  appeared  the  following: 

Ax  ORDER  REVOKED. 

( '// v   }\tticnts  to   be  Sent  Again   to   fJic  Homeopathic   Hospital  —  Dr. 
Johnson's  Letter  to  the  Mayor,  and  the  Mayor's  Action. 

The  following  letter  explains  itself.  ( )n  its  receipt  by  Mayor 
Thacher,  he  revoked  the  order  directing  Superintendent  McKenna 
to  send  no  more  city  patients  to  the  Homeopathic  Hospital.  He 
did  not  do  this  till  so  requested  by  !)r.  Johnson,  as  he  was  the 
complainant  in  the  first  place: 

To  Box.  JOHN   Uovi)  THACHER,  Mu\i>r: 

DEAR  SIR.—-  1  trust  that  you  will  pardon  me  for  again  calling  your 
attention  to  the  matter  of  the  Albany  Homeopathic  Hospital  and 
its  treatment  ot  colored  patients.  \  on  doubtless  remember  that 
<>n  the  Joth  of  December  last  1  called  your  attention  to  the  fact 
that  a  patient  sent  to  the  aforesaid  institution  by  Mr.  McKenna. 
Superintendent  of  the  Poor,  had  been  refused  on  account  of  her 
color,  i  did  not  move  in  this  matter  until  1  had  satisfied  myself  that 
an  outrage  had  been  perpetrated  by  the  home  physician  and  the 
matron  of  the  institution  against  the  almost  unanimous  public  senti 
ment  of  progressive  Albany,  a  city  that  I  am  proud  to  know  stands 
second  to  no  other  in  the  I'nited  States  on  the  score  of  a  just  recog 
nition  of  and  the  according  of  equal  rights  and  public  privileges  to 
all.  regardless  of  race,  color,  religion  or  nationality. 

Your  prompt  and  manly  manner  in  noticing  publicly  the  injury 
done  to  our  citizens,  and  issuing  of  an  order  directing  the  superin 
tendent  to  send  no  more  patients  to  that  institution  until  the  wrong 


198  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

was  corrected,  called  from  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany 
Homeopathic  Hospital  an  emphatic  denial  of  any  knowledge  of  the 
action  of  the  inculpated  parties  until  after  the  injury  had  been  done, 
and  their  unmeasured  condemnation  of  the  act  that  tended  to  place 
them  in  open  conflict  with  public  sentiment  and  justice. 

The  board  of  trustees  of  the  hospital,  at  a  meeting  held  January 
4th,  unanimously  adopted  resolutions  condemnatory  of  the  unwar 
ranted  action  of  the  employes  in  the  matter  before  mentioned,  and 
expressing  their  loyalty  to  prevailing  public  sentiment  on  the  subject 
of  equal  rights  to  all,  in  such  an  emphatic  manner  that  there  can 
remain  no  shadow  of  doubt  of  their  sincerity.  The  board  also  ask 
your  honor  to  rescind  the  order  in  relation  to  -the  sending  of  city 
patients  to  the  hospital. 

I  am  informed  that  a  copy  of  the  resolutions  has  been  forwarded 
to  you,  and  in  justice  to  the  high  and  distinguished  standing  of  the 
gentlemen  comprising  the  board,  ever;/  one  of  them  I  not  only 
believe,  but  know,  to  be  entitled  to  the  highest  consideration,  I  have 
to,  and  do.  appeal  to  you  to  do  simple  justice  to  those  public- 
spirited  and  philanthropic  citizens  by  the  revocation  of  the  order. 

In  closing  this  appeal  to  your  favor,  permit  me,  dear  sir,  to 
assure  you  that  your  action  in  this  matter  merits  the  commendation 
of  all  the  people  and  is  in  keeping  with  the  action  of  your  distin 
guished  father  and  illustrious  predecessor,  who,  thirty  years  ago,  as 
Mayor  of  Albany,  protected  Frederick  Douglass  in  his  effort  to 
speak  in  public  in  this  city. 

WILLIAM    11.  JOHNS(  )\. 

Albanv,   February   is.   1888. 


TRKASIKY  DEPARTMENT, 
\YASII  JXGTOX,   1).  C.,  September  23.    1887. 

WM.  H.  JOHNSON,  Fso.,  -llbanv,  X.  )'.: 

M  y  DKAR  FRIK.\I>. — I  see  bv  the  morning  papers  von  were 
elected  a  member  of  the  State  Committee  by  an  almost  unanimous 
vote.  Accept  mv  congratulations.  1  am  always  proud,  as  you 
know,  to  learn  of  any  deserving  honors  that  my  friends  may  receive. 
]  was  over  to  Philadelphia  to  the  "  Centennial,"  and  saw  a  great 
many  of  your  friends.  My  regards  to  Mrs.  Johnson.  I  am  enjoy 
ing  good  health,  also  my  wife.  I  received  the  paper  you  kindly 
sent  me. 

I  am  your  friend, 

C1TAS.  H.  niTLKR, 


REV.  SAMUEL  HARRISON, 

)f  I'ittstield,  Mass.,  Chaplain  of  the  54th  Regiment,  which 
served  with  distinction  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 


Ul'    liUCllC::UT,    N.    V 


HON.  J.  W.  THOMPSON. 

Chairman  of  the  Douglas  Monumental  Association. 


J.  A.  CROMWELL, 
Canajoharie,  N.  Y. 


HON.  JAMES  C.  MATTHEWS. 
Ex-Recorder. 


STEPHEN  MEYERS, 

Of  Albany.  X.  Y.,  who  was  associated  with  Fred 
erick  Douglas  and  John  Brown  in  conducting 
the  ';  Under-sri-ound  Railroad.'' 


THE  SIXTH  UNITED  STATES  COLOEED 
TROOPS 

Receiving  Colors  ;H  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  18(12. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WTLLTAM     ITEXRY     JOTTXSOX.          203 

XHW  YORK  Crrv,  September  24,  1882. 
\Yiu.i.\.\i   H.  Joiixsox,  Eso.,  27  Maiden  Lane,  s\lbun\\  X.  Y.: 

I)I-:.\K  SIR. —  I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  2ist  instant. 
Please  acce])t  my  thanks  for  your  congratulations  and  good  wishes. 

Your  very  truly, 

CHAS.  J.  FOLGER. 

\\  . \siii NC'iox,  December  5,    18/3. 

DKAR  SIR.—  Mr.  Colliding  and  myself  were  doing  what  we  could 
for  you  when  your  second  letter  came.  1  return  the  papers  as 
requested. 

Yours, 

L.  TREMAIX. 

\\'\i.  11.  IOLJXSOX,  Eso. 


2O4          AfTOr.IOGR. \PIIV     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     11EXRV     JOHNSON. 

V 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

AUIANY  TIMKS. 

August  10,  1885. 

(Extract  from  Mr.  William  H.  Johnson's  Oration,  at  the  Emancipa 
tion  Celebration,  in  \\atkins,  August  4.) 

'J'hc  following-  arc  facts  from  the  address  delivered  at  the  National 
Emancipation  celebration  in  \Vatkins,  August  fourth,  by  Mr.  Wil 
liam  H.  Johnson,  of  this  city,  the  well-known  colored  orator: 

Regarding  the  great  anti-slavery  work,  the  enfranchisement  of 
the  race  and  the  complete  unity  of  the  country  as  fixed  and  uncon- 
trovertible  facts,  the  new  citizen  finds  himself  at  peace  with  all  man 
kind.  He  bears  malice  towards  none,  he  accepts  the  issues  growing 
out  of  the  late  Civil  War  as  settled;  lie  has  no  prejudice  against  any 
man  or  any  part}'. 

He  will  in  the  future,  as  he  has  in  the  past,  prove  true  and  loval 
to  the  underlying  principles  of  justice  and  equality,  principles  upon 
which  this  great  superstructure  of  ours  was  founded  bv  the  fathers 
and  grandly  maintained  by  their  successors. 

Whilst  he  will  never  fail  in  the  requital  of  every  obligation  incurred 
in  the  past,  he  will,  in  the  faithful  and  fearless  discharge  of  his  duty 
to  ( iod  and  his  country,  not  hesitate  to  form  new  alliances  when 
fully  convinced  that  such  a  departure  from  old  established  party 
lines  will  lead  to  the  better  and  more  substantial  consummation  of 
the  rights  of  men,  the  obliteration  of  the  odious  color  line,  the  bless 
ings  of  a  complete  union  of  all  the  States  and  the  happiness  and 
prosperity  of  all  the  people. 

[  speak  to  you  to-day,  not  as  a  partisan,  neither  as  a  Negro,  but 
as  a  plain  American  citizen.  I  congratulate  you  and  mv  countrv 
upon  the  bright  prospects  that  lie  before  us.  I  bespeak  for  you  and 
for  our  common  country  a  bright,  prosperous  and  happy  future. 
The  issues  that  forced  upon  us  the  late  unpleasant,  but  temporary, 
disruption  of  the  country  are  dead  and  are  happily  passing  into 
oblivion,  there  to  remain,  1  trust  forever.  For  the  past  twenty-four 
years  the  great  Republican  party  was  the  trusted  custodian  of  the 
welfare  of  the  government  and  of  all  the  people.  With  what  patriot 
ism,  how  fully  and  how  justly  that  great  responsible  trust  has  been 
discharged  by  it,  you  know  as  well  as  \. 

I  approve,  etc. 


Y     OF     DR.     WILLIAM      UKXKY     JOHXSOX.  205 

Jn  the  Year  1862,  when  the  life  of  this  nation  hung,  as  it  were,  in 
the  balance,  when  the  Confederate  major-generals  were  domineer 
ing-  over  the  I'nion  army,  and  were  apparently  carrying  in  triumph 
the  stars  and  bars  of  rebellion  to  the  front,  when  the  capitol  at 
Washington  was  in  eminent  danger  of  destruction,  when  the  north 
ern  people  were  distrusting  the  skill,  as  well  as  the  loyalty,  of  some 
of  our  military  leaders,  when  President  Lincoln  was  borne  down 
with  solicitude  for  the  preservation  of  the  I'nion,  and  the  effort  to 
hud  a  commander  capable  of  leading  the  Federal  army  to 
victory,  there  resided  in  the  unpretentious  village  of  ( ialena, 
111.,  a  quiet,  but  dignified  little  man.  with  strong  pro-slavery 
proclivities. 

lie  had  met  but  few  colored  people,  and  was  unacquainted  with 
the  better  qualities  possessed  bv  the  race. 

He  was,  at  that  time,  unknown  to  fame;  he  had  graduated  at 
West  Point  years  before  the  period  I  speak  of.  had  served  a  short 
time  in  the  Mexican  War.  had  retired  from  the  army,  and  was  pursu 
ing  the  calling  of  a  private  citizen,  when  his  country  demanded  his 
services. 

lie  answered,  and  went  to  the  front,  but  not  before  he  declared 
that  "  if  he  believed  that  the  war  was  for  the  freedom  of  the  blacks, 
that  he  would  remove  his  epaulets  from  his  shoulders  and  throw 
away  his  sword."  lie  was  a  strict  constructionist.  a  State's-right 
Democrat.  He  became  a  major-general  and  commanded  at  Fort 
Donelson.  After  the  fall  of  that  stronghold,  when  he  found  that 
tlu-  Xegroes,  slaves  as  they  were,  were  loyal  and  true  to  the  northern 
cause,  and  were  the  secret,  but  reliable,  friends  of  the  Union  soldiers, 
his  sentiments  on  the  slavery  question  changed,  and  he  became  our 
friend. 

The  silent,  eloquent  citizen  and  soldier,  who.  after  distinguished 
and  unparalleled  services  rendered  his  country  in  civil  and  military 
dutv,  on  the  field  of  battle,  ami  as  chief  magistrate  of  this  great 
republic,  retired  again  to  private  life,  loved,  honored  and  almost 
idolized  by  citizens  and  soldiers  alike. 

In  the  home  of  his  choice,  surrounded  bv  his  loving  and  devout 
family,  in  the  midst  of  peace  and  prosperity,  the  hand  of  illness 
was  laid  heavily  upon  him.  disease  contracted  on  the  field  of  battle 
developed  in  his  system  and  laid  low  the  first  citizen,  the  foremost 
soldier  of  this  age. 

Hhc  was  removed  to  Mount  McGregor:  every  effort  that  skill  and 
devotion  could  devise  was  expended  in  the  endeavor  to  restore  him 
to  health,  but  to  no  avail.  After  a  long,  lingering  season  of  pain 


2C>6         Al'ToniOGR. \JMIV     OF     DR.     \\MLLlAM     jlEXRV    JOHXSOX. 

and  suffering",  without  one  murmur  of  complaint,  with  faith  in  God 
and  deep  solicitude  for  his  country,  he  gave  up  his  precious  life,  a 
ransom  for  the  restored  Union  of  the  States,  and  the  blessings. of 
the  prosperity  this  country  does  now  enjoy. 

We  pause  here  to  lay  a  single  flower  upon  his  bier,  in  tearful  and 
in  grateful  remembrance  of  the  great  public  services  he  rendered  to 
our  country  and  to  mankind. 

To  no  man,  living-  or  dead,  are  we  more  indebted  for  freedom. 
citizenship  and  public  rights,  than  to  Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 

His  remains  were  tenderly  and  lovingly  borne  upon  the  shoulders 
of  a  grief-stricken  nation  to  their  last  resting-place  at  Riverside 
Park,  in  the  city  of  Xew  York,  beside  the  beautiful  Hudson  river. 
where  hundreds  go  dailv  to  testify  their  homage,  to  moisten  the 
sod  with  tears  of  gratitude  and  sorrow. 

We  bid  farewell  to  our  illustrious  chieftain,  he  that  was.  after 
Washington  and  Lincoln,  "  first  in  peace,  first  in  war,  and  first  in 
the  hearts  of  his  countrymen." — [Or.  \Ym.  II.  Johnson's  Tribute 
to  ( icn.  ( I  rant. 


THE  HEROES  OF  THE  JOHX  BROWN  FIGHT  AT  HARPER'S  FERRY.  YA. 

'Twenty-one  men  marched  with  John  1'rown  on  the  night  of 
October  16,  1859.  That  was  the  fighting  array  with  which  he 
invaded  the  '  sacred  soil  '  of  Yirginia,  and  began  a  '  sympathetic 
strike  '  against  the  '  chattel  slavery  '  which  enthralled  labor,  while 
threatening  the  peace  of  the  republic  and  the  safety  of  the  L'nion. 
Sixteen  of  these  men  were  of  the  master  race;  five  of  the  one  that 
was  in  bondage,  two  only  of  whom  had,  however,  been  born  slaves. 
Three  of  the  white  men  were  sons  of  the  leader;  two  were  related 
by  marriage  and  years  of  close  and  neighborly  friendship." 

Here  are  the  names  of  those  who  died  in  the  fight;  all  were 
executed,  except  ().  P.  Anderson,  who  made  good  his  escape  to 
Canada,  and,  later  on,  told  the  story  of  the  adventure  to  Frederick 
Douglass,  who  gave  the  substance  of  the  same,  in  an  interview,  to 
the  author  of  this  book. 

John  l>rown,  (  Hive  P>rown,  A.  I).  Stephens.  Albert  Hazlett,  \Ym. 
11.  Leeman,  Stewart  Taylor,  ().  S.  Anderson,  F.  J.  Merriam,  J.  F. 
Cook,  I).  H.  Thompson,  Edmond  Coppoc,  Watson  Brown,  J.  G. 
Anderson,  L.  S.  Leary,  Wm.  Thompson,  J.  A.  Copeland,  Barclay 
Coppoc,  Owen  Brown,  C.  P.  Tidd,  I.  H.  Kagi,  Dangerfield  Xubv. 


ArTOTHOGRAl'IJY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HRNRV     JOTIXSOX.          2()/ 

'I' in-:  SATURDAY  EYKXIXT,   POST. 

PHILADELPHIA,  June  28,  10,00. 
I  )KAR  A I  R.  Jmixsox: 

The  candidates  of  the  Republican  party  nominated  at  its  first  con 
vention  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  i/th  of  I  tine,  1856,  were  John  C\ 
I'Yemont,  for  President;  William  L.  Dayton,  of  Xew  Jersey,  for 
Vice- 1  'resident. 

(  )n  the  vote  for  the  vice-presidential  nomination,  Abraham 
Lincoln  received  i  10  votes.  Mr.  Dayton  was  nominated  on  the 
first  ballot,  and  his  nomination  was  made  unanimous. 

Expressing1  our  pleasure  at  being  able  to  give  you  the  desired 
information,  and  with  many  good  wishes,  we  are, 

Yours  very  truly 

Tl-IK  EDITORS. 


llKADOl'ARTKRS    X.    Y.    S.    L. 

TROY,  MarcJi  18,  1865. 
W.  1  I .  Joiixsox,  Lso.,  .  llban\: 

DKAR  SIR. —  \\m  are  hereby  formally  notified  of  your  election  as 
Kirst  \ 'ice-President  of  the  Xew  York  State  League. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  L.  BOSKMAX, 

( "orrcs ponding  Secretary. 

RICHMOND,  YA.,  December  18,  iS<)5- 
MR.  WILLIAM  H.  Joiixsox,  Albany,  N.  Y.: 

DKAR  SIR. —  Your  favor  received,  and  contents  noted.  I  have 
read  with  pleasure  what  you  were  kind  enough  to  say  about  me. 

I  assure  you  that  I  appreciate  your  remarks.  You  have  the  ring 
of  patriotism  in  all  you  utter,  and  I  accept  the  declarations  in  the 
same  spirit  in  which  they  arc  tendered.  I  shall  continue  to  do  my 
duty.  With  best  wishes,  1  am, 

Ycry  truly  yours, 

JOHN  MITCHELL,   IR. 


2O8          Al'TOlMOdRAIMIY     ()K     DR.     WILLIAM      IIKNRY     JOHNSON'. 

PROCLAMATION   OF   THE    PRESIDENT   OF  TIII<:   UNITED   STATES   or 

AMERICA. 

AYhereas,  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-two,  a  Proclama 
tion  was  issued  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  containing, 
among  other  tilings,  to  wit: 

"  That,  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  vear  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves 
within  any  State,  or  designated  part  of  a  State,  the  people  whereof 
shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  shall  be  then, 
thence  forward  and  forever  free;  and  the  Executive  Government  of 
the  United  States,  including  the  Military  and  Xaval  authority 
thereof,  will  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  such  persons, 
and  will  do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such  persons,  or  anv  of  them, 
in  any  efforts  they  may  make  for  their  actual  freedom. 

'"  That  the  Executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of  January  aforesaid, 
by  Proclamation,  designate  the  States  and  parts  of  States,  if  any,  in 
which  the  people  thereof  respectively  shall  then  be  in  rebellion 
against  the  I  nited  States,  and  the  fact  that  any  State,  or  the  people 
thereof,  shall  on  that  day  be  in  good  faith  represented  in  the  Con 
gress  of  the  I  nited  States  by  members  chosen  thereto,  at  election 
wherein  a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  State  shall  have 
participated,  shall,  in  the  absence  of  strong  countervailing  testi 
mony,  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence  that  such  State,  and  the  peo 
ple  thereof,  are  not  in  rebellion  against  the  I  nited  States." 

Xow.  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States,  by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  as  Commander-in-Uhief 
of  the  arm}'  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  in  time  of  actual  armed 
rebellion  against  the  country  and  Government  of  the  United  States, 
and  as  a  necessary  war  measure  for  suppressing  said  rebellion,  do. 
on  this  first  day  of  January,  in  the  vear  of  our  Lord  1863,  and  in- 
accordance  with  my  purpose  so  to'  do,  publicly  proclaimed  for  the 
full  period  of  one  hundred  days  from  the  day  first  above-mentioned, 
order  and  designate  the  States,  and  parts  of  States  wherein  the  peo 
ple  thereof  respectively  are  this  day  in  rebellion  against  the  I  nited 
States,  the  following,  to  wit:  Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana  (except 
the  parishes  of  St.  Bernard,  Plaquemine,  Jefferson.  St.  John,  St. 
Charles.  St.  James.  Ascension,  Assumption,  Terre  Bonne,  La 
Fourche,  St.  Mary,  St.  Martin  and  Orleans  [including  the  city  of 
Xew  Orleans]).  Mississippi,  Alabama.  Florida.  Georgia,  North 
Carolina.  South  Carolina  and  Virginia,  except  the  forty-eight  conn- 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM.      IIKXRY     JOHNSON.          2OQ 

tics  designated  as  West  Virginia,  and  also  the  counties  of  Berkley, 
Accomac.  Xorthanipton.  Elizabeth  City,  York,  Princess  Ann  and 
Norfolk  and  Portsmouth,  and  which  excepted  parts  are  for  the  pres 
ent  left  precisely  as  if  this  Proclamation  were  not  issued. 

And  by  virtue  of  the  power,  and  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  1  do 
order  and  declare  that  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  said  desig 
nated  States,  and  parts  of  States,  are  and  henceforward  shall  be  free; 
and  that  the  Executive  Government  of  the  L'nited  States,  including 
the  military  and  naval  authorities  thereof,  will  recognize  and  main 
tain  the  freedom  of  said  persons. 

And  J  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  declared  to  be  free,  to 
abstain  from  all  violence,  unless  in  necessary  self-defense. 

And  I  recommend,  too,  that  in  all  cases  when  allowed,  thev  labor, 
faithfully,  for  reasonable  wages. 

And  I  further  declare  and  make  known,  that  such  persons  of 
suitable  condition  will  be  received  into  the  armed  service  of  the 
L'nited  States,  to  garrison  forts,  positions,  stations,  and  other  places, 
and  to  man  vessels  of  all  sorts  in  said  service. 

And  upon  this  act,  sincerely  believed  to  be  an  act  of  justice  war 
ranted  by  the  Constitution  upon  military  necessity,  I  invoke  the 
considerate  judgment  of  mankind  and  the'  gracious  favor  of 
Almighty  ( loci. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the 
seal  of  the  L'nited  .States  to  be  affixed. 

Done   at    the    citv   of    Washington,    this    tirst    day    of 
lanuarv,   in   the   vear   <>!    our   Lord   one   thousand   eight 
[L.  s.  j       hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the 
t'nited  States  the  eighty-seventh. 

(Signed)  ABRAHAM   LIXCOLX. 

I'.v  the  President, 

WILLIAM  i  1.  SKWARD, 

Secretory  of  State. 


BOROUGH   OF  BROOKLYN.  August  26.   1899. 

MR.    \YM.  H.    [OHXSOX: 

DKAR  SIR. —  St.   Augustine's   P.  E.  church,   St.   Edwards   street, 
the  Rev.  George  Frazier  Miller,  rector,  proposes  to  give  an  enter 
tainment  of  a  musical  and  literary  character   at   the  Academy  of 
Music,  Brooklyn,  October  26,  1899,  to  increase  the  building  fund  of 
14 


2LO          ArTOlMOCK. \IMIY     OJ-'     DR.     WILLIAM      IIHXRY     JOHXSoK. 

said  church.      It  is  the  desire  of  the  church  to  have  a  citizen  com 
mittee,  composed  of  the  representative  and  public-spirited  men   of 
this  borough  and  the   Borough  of  Manhattan,  and  respectfully  ask 
your  consent  to  use  your  name  as  member  of  said  committee. 
Hoping  that  you  will  grant  us  this  favor.   1  am, 

\  ours  very  respectfully, 

WAI.   E.  CROSS. 


Jerry,  the  alleged  fugitive  slave,  was  arrested  and  rescued 
at  Syracuse,  X.  V.,  in  1852.  The  principal  rescuers  were 
tried  in  this  city,  in  the  Cnited  States  Court,  ludge  Hall  presided. 
They  were  ably  defended  by  Counselors  Hon.  Cerrit  Smith,  of 
Pctersboro,  X".  Y.,  and  Cens.  Sedgwick  and  Martindale.  of  Syra 
cuse.  Enoch  Reed  and  a  Air.  Cobb  (white)  were  convicted,  bin 
never  entered  prison.  Their  sentence  was  suspended  bv  l In 
humane  justice. 

Xallie,  another  alleged  slave,  was  arrested  at  Troy.  X'.  Y.  He, 
too,  was  rescued.  The  principal  actors  in  his  defense  being  Coun 
selor  Hon.  Alartin  I.  Townsend,  the  veteran  of  many  heroic 
struggles  for  manhood  and  right  —  James  P.  Harding,  Win.  Rich 
and  Peter  S.  Baltimore.  Airs.  Harriet  Tugman,  a  stalwart  X'egro 
woman,  now  residing  at  Auburn,  in  this  State,  took  Xallie  in  her 
arms,  placed  him  in  a  row-boat,  whence  he  was  landed  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Hudson  river  and  made  his  escape  to  Canada,  the  land 
of  the  free.  It  stands  to  the  credit  of  the  Empire  State  that.no 
alleged  fugitive  slave  was  ever  remanded  from  the  free  precincts  of 
the  State  of  Xew  York. 

The  Dangerneld  case  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  occurred  in  the  spring 
of  1859.  He  was  released  because  of  insufficient  evidence. 

The  Daniel  \Yebster  case  took  place  in  the  same  city  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year.  He  was  remanded,  sent  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  his 
alleged  master's  home.  It  was  in  the  attempt  to  rescue  him  that 
resulted  in  the  imprisonment  of  Buck,  Burlcigh,  White  and  his 
companions,  and  which  caused  my  enforced  departure  from  that 
goodly  city. —  [Wm.  H.  Johnson,  for  the  Albany  Capitol. 


(  )n  another  page  will  be  seen  a  reprint  of  the  Colored  A I  en's 
State  Convention,  which,  was  held  at  Albany,  X.  Y..  in  the  autumn 
of  1866,  including  two  white  ladies  standing  in  the  doorway  of  the 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     <  >  F     DR.     WILLIAM     1IKXRY     JOHXSOX.          211 

church.  In  connection  with  the  same,  Dr.  Johnson,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  convention  and  who  is  in  the  representation,  relates 
the  following  incident:  The  transaction  of  the  convention's  busi 
ness  was  progressing  smoothly,  when  Miss  Susan  P>.  Anthony,  who 
was  in  company  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton.  arose  in  the  con 
vention  and  after  addressing  the  Chair,  Prof.  \Y.  Howard  I)av,  of 
1  [arrisburg,  Pa.,  proceeded  to  make  a  speech.  She  had  been  speak 
ing  but  a  few  moments,  when,  loud  and  quick  as  a  thunderbolt  out 
of  the  cloudless  noon-day  skies,  there  came  an  objection  to  Miss 
Anthony's  proceeding  from  Father  Peyton  Harris,  of  Buffalo, 
X.  Y.,  the  oldest  delegate  in  the  convention.  This  gentleman,  who 
had  passed  his  eightieth  year,  threw  the  entire  assembly  into  con 
fusion.  Miss  Anthony  was  surprised  and  almost  paralyzed  with 
indignation,  as  was  her  fair  companion.  The  ("hair  ruled  out  the 
objection  and  instructed  the  lady  to  proceed  with  her  remarks, 
which  she  again  attempted  to  do.  but  Mr.  Harris  appealed  from  the 
decision  of  the  Chair  and  his  objection  was  sustained.  Every 
member  of  the  entire  convention  knew  the  tenacious  character  of 
Father  Harris,  and  they  feared  to  meet  the  crisis.  The  chairman 
proceeded  to  lecture  the  interrupter  but  was  interrupted  himself  by 
the  interrupter,  who  demanded  that  the  call  for  the  convention  be 
read.  This  was  complied  with  by  the  secretary  of  the  convention. 
Mr.  John  P.osemans,  reading  the  call,  which  was  for  a  colored  man's 
meeting.  .After  the  reading  of  the  call,  which  was  written  by  the 
late  Hon.  Frederick  Douglass.  Mr.  Harris  again  addressed  the  chair, 
and  apologized  for  his  interruption,  but  declared  that  if  Miss  Anthony 
would  demonstrate  to  him  that  she  was  a  colored  man,  then  he  would 
cheerfully  withdraw  his  objection.  The  lady,  who  had  remained 
standing,  waved  her  hand  at  the  old  man.  as  a  recognition  of 
satisfaction,  and,  amid  laughter  and  applause,  resumed  her  seat. 
Pater  on.  upon  the  motion  of  Mr.  Harris,  both  she  and  Mrs.  Stanton 
were  invited  to  address  the  convention  which  thev  did  to  the  pleasure 
and  satisfaction  of  all. 

. •//>/-//  S.   i8<);. 
Du.  \\'M.  TT.  JOHNSON'.  -7  .1 /"<//</<•//  Lane: 

])!•:. \R  SIR. —  I  beg  to  enclose  herewith  letter  and  receipt  from 
Mrs.  Adams,  acknowledging  the  reception  of  the  draft  of  $100 
for  her  relief.  I  am  sure  that  you  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that  she 
has  received  it,  as  well  as  to  know  that  she  is  grateful  for  so  generous 
a  contribution  in  this  time  of  her  greatest  need.  To  vour  hide- 


212          AUTOBIOGRAPHY     <>K     Hk.     WJ  LLTAM     IIEXRV    JO1IXSOX. 

fatigable  and  intelligent  efforts,  she  owes  more  than  to  anv  other 
man  for  the  benefits  which  have  come  to  her  in  her  dav  of  adversity. 

I  am,  honored  sir,  very  cordially  vours, 

I.    F.   BRUCE. 


HI;;MIJOU>T  Co.,  PETROLIA,  C.vi..,  March  24,  1897. 

MESSRS.  WAI.  H.  Jonxsox,  F.  15.  IKVJXG  AXD  |.  F.  I>IU:CK,  Alhanv, 
N.  Y.: 

CiEXTLEMEX. —  Yesterday  [  received  your  letter  of  March  eighth, 
with  the  enclosed  draft  for  $100  from  the  A.  B.  A.  Association,  of 
Albany.  As  I  had  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Thomas  Feathersten- 
hough,  of  Washington.  I).  C,  telling  me  that  it  was  the  wish  of  the 
people  that  the  money  should  be  applied  on  the  debt,  1  went  imme 
diately  from  the  post-office,  and  signed  the  draft  over  and  had  it 
applied  on  the  principal  of  the  note  due.  May  God's  best  blessing's 
descend  upon  you  all  for  this  token  of  kindness  and  sympathy  for  me 
and  respect  for  my  father.  Many  thanks  for  the  two  parcels  of 
papers  sent. 

I  was  much  interested  in  the  Bruce  address,  and  so  glad  to  see 
the  doctrine,  that  "  It  is  better  to  suffer  wrong  than  to  do  wrong." 
so  ably  advocated.  Would  it  not  be  far  better  to  build  memorial 
buildings,  named  in  honor  of  your  cherished  heroes,  for  educational 
and  charitable  purposes,  than  to  rear  useless  masses  of  stone  <>r 
marble,  that  will  never  do  the  living  nor  the  dead  any  good? 

There  were  five  colored  men  in  my  father's  company  and  1  dis 
tinctly  remember  seeing  a  goodly  number  wearing  blue  coats  dur 
ing  the  late  war,  who  laid  down  their  lives  for  the  benefit  of  their 
race.  Why  not  "  keep  their  memories  green  "  in  some  such  way? 

Let  me  entreat  you  to  take  care  of  your  poor;  the  rich  will  take 
care  of  themselves.     So  imitate  John  Brown,  by  always  holding  out 
a  helping  and  sympathetic  hand  to  all  the  helpless  and  despised  ones. 
Most  gratefully  and  sincerely  yours. 

ANNIF  BROWN  ADAMS. 


In  the  opinion  of  Fred  Rauschcr,  Dr.  William  If.  Johnson,  the 
veteran  barber,  politician  and  litterateur,  is  a  man  not  to  be  trifled 
with.  Fred  and  the  doctor  have  been  for  several  years,  and  still 
are.  mighty  good  friends.  They  twit  each  other  incessantly  about 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF    DR.     WILLIAM     HEXRY    JOHNSON.          213 

all  kinds  of  things,  from  the  cut  of  their  moustaches  to  the  partings 
of  their  hair,  right  on  up  to  the  great  affairs  of  statecraft  that  now 
engage  the  attention  of  the  people.  But  to  the  story:  The  other 
morning  the  doctor  went  to  see  Fred,  who  was  in  his  usual  genial 
frame  of  mind  and  began  twitting  the  doctor  about  something  that 
happened  many  years  ago,  which  the  doctor  couldn't  have  prevented 
if  he'd  wanted  to.  The  doctor  listened  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then 
feigning  anger  proceeded  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  action  which  is  the 
point  of  this  story.  He  went  back  to  his  shop  and  took  from  among 
a  hundred  relics  of  wars  and  campaign  parades  an  old  black  revolver 
case  that  at  a  cursory  glance  appeared  to  be  the  very  article  which  it 
\vas  meant  to  protect.  He  went  back  to  Fred's  place  of  business 
and  said,  pointing  the  black  leather  case  about  three  yeards  above 
Fred's  head: 

"  Xow,  will  you  take  that  back?  " 

Fred  was  scared.  His  hair  stood  on  end  and  he  made  a  mad 
rush  for  the  telephone  to  call  out  the  police  department.  But  before 
he  got  to  the  instrument  the  doctor  said: 

"  Yes,  I  mean  it,  too." 
Don't  shoot!    Don't  shoot!  "  said  Fred. 
Yes,  I  will,  if  you  go  to  the  'phone,"  said  the  doctor. 

Finally  the  doctor  burst  out  laughing  and  Fred  discovered  how  he 
had  been  fooled  by  a  black  piece  of  leather.  The  two  men  still 
have  the  greatest  respect  for  each  other  but  they  won't  forget  the 
episode  very  soon. —  [Albany  Evening  Journal.  November  3,  1900. 


A    DEMOCRATIC    DISTRICT    ATTORNEY  —  His    PROMPT    AND    JUST 

ACTION. 

Editorially  we  speak  of  Judge  Peckham's  action  while  district 
attorney  of  this  county,  in  issuing  instructions  to  inspectors  of  elec 
tion  concerning  the  registration  of  colored  voters.  It  gives  us 
pleasure  to  reproduce  at  this  time  the  correspondence  in  relation 
thereto. 

Tin-:  RIGHTS  or  COLORED  CITIZENS. 

\Ye  would  call  attention  of  inspectors  of  election  to  the  admis 
sions  of  the  Albany  Argus,  that  colored  citizens  are  now  fully 
invested  with  all  the  rights  of  electors  and  hence  entitled  to  registra 
tion.  The  morning  after  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  was  proclaimed, 
The  Argus  said; 


214          AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     1>R.     WI1.L1AM     JIKXRY     JOHXSOX. 

"  However  unfairly  made  up  the  Radicals  Have  the  Record 
Against  Us.  Xo  State  has  so  much  right  to  complain  as  our  own 
great  State;  the  voice  of  her  four  millions  of  people  has  been  nulli 
fied  by  the  forced  vote  of  little  Honda,  given  through  a  bogus 
legislature." 

"Nevertheless,  Xew  York  Always  Abides  by  the  Declared  Law, 
Promptly  (so  promptly  that  the  two  things  are  simultaneous)  upon 
the  appearance  of  the  President's  message,  our  State  prepared  to 
modify  her  election  laws,  so  that  her  colored  citi7.ens  shall  find  n<> 
hindrance  to  the  enjoyment  of  their  Xewly  Acquired  Rights  under 
this  amendment.  Xo  more  explicit  and  indisputable  statement  of 
the  law  can  be  made  than  this.  Colored  citi/ens  should  insist  upon 
their  rights  by  whomsoever  resisted,  and,  if  desired,  the  law  will  be 
prosecuted  to  its  extremes!  conclusion. 

The  following  correspondence  occurred  to-day: 

ALBANY,  April  9,   1870. 
Hon.  District  Attorney,  Albany  Count v: 

SJR. —  You  would  confer  a  great  favor  upon  the  colored  citizens 
by  a  brief  answer  to  the  following  questions: 

.First.    Is  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  ratified? 
Second.   Does  it  confer  the  franchise  upon  colored  citizens? 
Third.    Is  it  the  right  of  colored  citizens  of  this  city  to  be  regis 
tered,  with  a  view  of  voting  on  next  Tuesday? 

Your  obedient  servant, 

\YM.    H.    I()HXS<  )X. 


DISTRICT    ATTORNEY'S    OFKICI:. 

A ui AX y,  April  9,   1870. 

I  think  that  by  the  ratification  of  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  to 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  colored  persons  have  the 
same  right  to  vote  that  any  other  citizens  have,  and  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  inspectors  of  election  to  register  the  names  of  all  such  per 
sons  as  voters  who  are  otherwise  qualified  to  vote  and  who  comply 
with  the  conditions  of  the  registry  law  applicable  to  citizens 
generally. 

R.  W.  PECKHAM,  JR. 

Under  this  ruling  the  colored  citizen  was  admitted  to  the  ballot 
in  this  city  April  12,  1870;  the  first  exercise  of  the  Fifteenth  Amend 
ment  took  place.— [The  Calcium  Light,  Albany,  December  3,  1892. 


; 


I'XCONDITIOXAL  DflLDING  —  BEAVEK  STREET 


I'AKLOK      UNCONDITIONAL   151  ILDIM 


IULL1AKD  |{i.)f>M  -  UNCONDITIONAL    n 


ASSEMBLY  IOOM     UNCONDITIONAL  BIILDLM; 


HEADING  ROOM  -UNCONDITIONAL  . 


At'TORTOGRAPriY     OF     DR.     WrLLTAM     HENRY     JOHNSON.          219 


CHAPTER  XV. 

L<  x  >KI.\<;  BACKWARD. 

'flic  Celebration  of  the  Eighty-third  Anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  b\  the  ftanneker  Institute,  Philadelphia,  Jitl\  4,  1859. 

CELL: is  RATION. 

According  to  previous  notice,  the  Institute  met  at  Franklin  Hall, 
and,  after  an  overture  from  Johnson's  band,  the  introductory 
remarks  were  made  bv  Mr.  Jacob  C.  White,  Jr..  chairman  of  the 
meeting".  The  Declaration  of  Independence  was  then  read  by 
Mr.  William  H.  Minton. 

The  chairman  then  introduced  Mr.  William  11.  Johnson,  who 
delivered  the  following: 

ORATION. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  (ientlemen. — -1  need  not  inform  you 
that  this  is  the  Fourth  of  luly,  and  that  eighty-three  years  ago  this 
day  liberty  was  proclaimed  to  this  country  and  to  all  the  inhabitants 
thereof.  1  will  not  exhaust  my  speech  nor  tire  your  patience  in  the 
unnecessary  attempt  to  impress  upon  your  minds  the  great  import 
ance  of  this  occasion  to  the  American  government,  lo  the  citizens 
of  the  I'nited  States,  and  to  you  who  are  proscribed.  You  doubt 
lessly  have  heard  to-day,  as  I  have,  the  thunder  of  the  city's  artil 
lery,  the  music  of  martial  and  military  bands:  you  have  witnessed, 
as  I  have,  the  display  of  the  national  ensign;  vou  have  seen,  as  I 
have,  the  American  Hag.  the  freemen's  chosen  emblem,  floating 
majestically  from  the  masthead  of  American  vessels  in  our  port; 
you  have  seen  the  same  ensign  floating  above  high  places;  you  have 
met,  in  passing  to  this  house,  hundreds  of  persons  with  happy  faces 
and  joyous  hearts,  who  throng  the  thoroughfares,  giving  vent  to 
those  instinctive  promptings  of  nature  which  accord  with  the  free 
man's  will,  to  rejoice  at  the  bare  proclamation  of  liberty;  you  have 
heard  the  chiming  of  church  bells  and  sacred  music  discoursed  in 
the  consecrated  temples  of  the  Lord,  and  this  intimates  that  even 
the  Divinity  Himself  was  pleased  with  that  truthful  Declaration 
which  we  have  assembled  here  to  celebrate,  and  that  He  sanctions 
and  approves  what  men  do  when  thev  do  rightlv  and  justlv. 


22O         AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF    DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON. 

You,  my  friends,  have  seen  and  heard  all  this;  you  have  to-day, 
as  you  have  years  before,  witnessed  these  demonstrations  of  joy,  and 
you  need  not  be  informed  that  it  is  in  commemoration  of  the  fourth 
day  of  July,  1776,  and  it  is  well  that  it  be  commemorated.  NTo\v, 
that  the  fathers  did  rightly  and  justly  in  signing  and  issuing  ihc 
Declaration  of  Independence,  is  not  to  be  doubted  for  a  moment, 
but  that  the  colored  people  have  been  deprived  of  those  inestimable 
rights  vouchsafed  to  all  Americans  by  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  is  evident  to  all. 

But,  sir.  notwithstanding  all  this,  we  inherit  the  same  spirit  which 
inspired  the  writer  of  these  beautiful  lines,  so  expressive  of  a  free- 
people's  sentiments  when  their  rights  are  taken  from  them. 

"  Thy  spirit,  independent,  let  me  share. 

Lord  of  the  lion  heart  and  eagle  eye. 
Thy  steps  1  follow  with  my  bosom  bare, 

Xor  heed  the  storm  that  howls  along  the  sky." 

We,  of  Pennsylvania,  are  permitted  to  celebrate  this  or  any  other 
da}~  as  we  please,  and  we  please  to  celebrate  this  4th  day  of  [uly, 
1859,  as  it  becomes  disfranchised  Americans  to  celebrate  such  a  day. 
We  are  not  deprived  of  the  power  to  meet  and  speak;  so  far,  thank 
God,  we  are  free.  We  have  our  speech,  and  we  will  use  it  to  the 
best  advantage,  and  in  so  doing  place  ourselves  in  a  proper  position 
before  the  world.  The  ((uestion  has  been  asked,  how  can  the  black 
man  conscientiously  celebrate  the  Fourth  of  July?  The  answer  is 
significant  of  these  facts;  that  it  is  the  oppressed  in  this  country  who 
should  celebrate  the  day  that  gave  birth  to  a  declaration,  setting 
forth  that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal,  and  that  declaration 
emanating  from  the  brain  of  the  father  of  true  democracy,  Thomas 
Jefferson,  the  third  President  of  the  Tnited  States,  and  it  also 
secured  the  sanction  of  the  best  and  bravest  among  statesmen  of 
that  age.  It  was  under  this  declaration  that  America  threw  off  her 
allegiance  to  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain.  It  is  under  this  declara 
tion  she  has  made  herself  respected  by  the  known  world.  It  was 
for  the  perpetuity  of  these  truths,  therein  expressed  so  beautifully, 
that  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette  was  prompted  to  hasten  to  the  side 
of  General  Washington  and  to  measure  swords  with  the  P>ritish 
soldiers. 

Are  there  any  in  this  assembly,  are  there  anv  in  this  State,  who 
are  base  and  vile  enough  to  believe  that  Jefferson,  Adams,  Hancock, 
and  all  that  galaxy  of  noble  patriots  who  signed  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  lied?  And  that  these  good  men,  who  were  ready  and 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     J)K.     \YILL1AM     IIEXRY     JOUXSOX.          221 

willing  to  lay  clown  their  lives  rather  than  remain  in  a  state  of 
vassalage  to  a  king,  were  treacherous  to  the  extent  that  they  would 
deceive?  Are  you  willing  to  believe  that  they  were  base  enough 
to  have  invoked  ( iod's  presence  whilst  they  committed  perjury?  1 
hope  there  are  none  such  here,  for  if  there  are,  they  only  at  most 
agree  with  northern  and  southern  "nigger  haters"  and  Jiible 
defamers.  \\  e  believe  that  the  revolutionary  fathers  were  too  patri 
otic,  too  noble,  generous,  high-minded  and  philanthropic  for  such 
baseness,  and  that  it  is  libeling  their  veracity,  their  good  name  and 
their  sacred  honor  to  charge  them  with  such  duplicity,  or  attempt 
to  mystify  their  posterity.  The  signers  of  the  Declaration  were,  to 
all  intents  and  purposes,  anti-slavery  men,  and  their  history  will 
bear  me  out  in  this  assertion. 

Believing,  as  we  do,  in  the  correctness  of  the  Declaration,  \ve  are 
bound  in  gratitude  to  its  authors,  and  in  respect  to  the  principles 
there  laid  down  as  fundamental  basis  for  this  country,  to  eulogize 
the  day  upon  which  it  came  to  light. 

Recognizing  the  truths  therein  set  forth  to  be  self-evident,  we 
rejoice  that  they  have  been  declared  by  the  fathers,  notwithstanding 
their  good  consequences  have  been  withheld  from  us  by  selfish  and 
unprincipled  administrations.  Some  gentlemen  have  suggested  the 
propriety  of  burning  copies  of  the  Declaration  on  each  Fourth  of 
July,  instead  of  giving  it  our  applause.  Xow,  from  this  suggestion 
1  do  most  respectfully  dissent,  and  I  put  these  questions  to  all 
persons  who  favor  that  proposition:  Is  not  the  Declaration  true? 
Are  not  all  men  born  free  and  equal?  Do  not  they  inherit  the  right 
of  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness?  And  if  this  is  so.  whs- 
shall  we  burn  such  a  Declaration?  1  am  at  a  loss  to  see  the  justice 
of  the  suggestion,  but  1  can  readily  understand  why  every  pro 
scribed  American  ought  to  celebrate  it.  It  is  because  it  is  true,  and 
that  its  authors  meant  just  what  they  wrote  and  said,  and  it  is  not 
their  fault  if  we  do  not  enjoy  our  rights  as  they  would  have  us  do. 
Xow.  let  me  ask  these  incendiary  gentlemen,  if  there  are  any  of 
them  within  the  sound  of  my  voice,  a  question  upon  a  supposition. 
Should  it  so  happen  that  some  millionaire  should  die,  and  that  after 
wards  it  was  found  that  in  his  last  will  and  testament  he  had 
bequeathed  to  you  a  legacy,  and  it  so  happened  that  the  administra 
tors  of  his  affairs  dishonored  his  will,  and  withheld  the  legacy  from 
you;  now,  the  question  is  this:  \Yould  you,  because  you  failed  to  get 
your  right,  owing  to  the  dishonesty  of  the  administrators,  despair 
of  getting  it,  and  abuse  the  dead,  and  burn  the  will,  and  thus  render 
it  impossible  for  you  to  obtain  it  at  any  future  period?  Xo,  no; 


222         AUTOBIOGRAPHY     <>!•'    J)R.     WILLIAM    JIENRY    JOHNSOX. 

you  would  do  no  such  silly  thing-.  I  Jut  you  would  rather  keep  the 
matter  before  the  proper  tribunal;  you  would  urge  vour  honest 
claim,  and  you  would  prosecute  it  to  the  last  moment  of  vour 
existence.  Xow,  this  is  analogous  to  the  Declaration  of  Independ 
ence,  for  we  all  maintain  that  the  Declaration  means  black  as  well 
as  white  men.  and  that  it  means  that  the  oppressed  of  all  nations, 
being  indifferent  as  to  their  place  of  birth  (it  might  be  in  Asia,  Africa, 
Europe,  or  our  own  America),  might  fly  to  these  l/nited  States,  and 
find  refuge  and  succor  under  the  banner  of  the  red,  white  and  blue. 
\Ye  believe  this  and  we  have  assembled  here  to-day  to  pay  a 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  noble  men  who  gave  us  the  Declaration. 
\Ye  honor  the  instrument,  and  hold  up  to  the  scorn  of  the  wide 
world  those  narrow-minded,  small-fisted  and  bullet-headed  poli 
ticians  who  have  for  a  number  of  years  traduced  and  subverted  its 
truths. 

Celebrated  and  standard  lexicographers  define  politics  as  the  "  sci 
ence  of  government,"  and  we  rind,  from  observation,  and  a  practical 
knowledge  of  its  working,  that  it  is  the  motive  power  and  machinerv 
by  which  governments  are  propelled.  Every  form  of  government 
has  its  peculiar  character  of  politics.  There  is.  sir.  politics  in  limited 
and  absolute  monarchies,  as  well  as  in  republics;  but  the  politics  of 
nations  are  materially  different  in  their  modus  operand i;  hence,  poli 
tics  which  would  suit  France,  England,  Russia,  and  other  European 
nations,  will  not  harmonize  and  accord  with  the  much  boasted  repub 
lican  form  in  the  United  States  of  Xorth  America  to-day.  Propos 
ing,  as  I  do,  to  treat  politics  in  its  broadest  and  most  comprehensive 
sense,  in  a  series  of  lectures  hereafter  to  be  delivered  before  the 
Institute.  I  shall  now  volunteer  some  thoughts  on  political  economy, 
and  its  application  to  the  Tnited  States,  with  particular  reference  to 
its  former  and  present  treatment  of  the  two  contending  races,  form 
erly  equalizing  them,  and  subsequently  dividing  them,  and  oppress 
ing  the  weaker,  and  this  oppression  continues  down  to  this  dav, 
unwarranted  by  the  established  policy  of  revolutionary  date.  And 
to  that  period  we  will  now  turn  our  attention  for  a  few  moments. 
It  is  evident  to  all  that  there  must  have  been  some  gross  wrong 
inflicted,  and  some  oppressive  and  unjustifiable  laws  imposed  upon 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  old  England,  in  the  colonial  settlements 
in  America,  to  have  prompted  them  to  hazard  their  liberties,  their 
lives,  and  their  sacred  honor,  in  rebelling  against  their  king.  They 
were  sensible  of  the  dangers  and  hardships,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
almost  certain  death  which  awaited  them,  if  they  were  unsuccessful 
in  the  struggle  for  their  independence.  I  say  there  must  have  been 


AL'TOUIOGRAPIIY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     UKXRV     JOHXSOX.          22$ 

something  dreadfully  degrading  and  oppressive  in  the  condition  of 
the  revolutionary  fathers  to  have  sustained,  stimulated  and  borne 
them  up  during  that  trying  crisis,  and  there  was.  The  Puritans, 
prompted  bv  the  love  of  religious,  civil  and  political  liberty,  forsook 
their  homes,  their  fathers,  mothers,  sisters  and  brothers  in  their 
fatherland  and  journeved  hither,  and  settled  themselves  on  the  newly- 
discovered  continent,  thus  placing  the  broad  Atlantic  ocean,  with  its 
might v  rolling  billows  and  its  fathomless  sea,  between  them  and 
their  tyrant  king.  Krom  oppression,  they  had.  by  the  hardest  and 
most  earnest  labor  and  constancy,  transferred  themselves  to  an 
uncultivated  and  barren  soil ;  they  encountered  savages  of  a  ferocious 
character,  whose  jealousies  were  soon  aroused  by  the  invasion  of 
the  Puritans  and  other  European  emigrants,  and,  as  it  was  natural 
to  anticipate,  a  relentless  war  was  the  consequence  of  this  hostile 
meeting.  The  Puritans  bore  with  Christian  fortitude  and  true, 
manly  heroism,  the  hardships  and  the  adversities  of  their  new 
homes,  and  they  preferred  that  transient  state  of  disorder  and  rebel 
lion  to  the  more  poignant  tyranny  they  suffered  in  England. 

The  hope  that  they  would  finally  overcome  the  vicissitudes  con 
sequent  to  a  new  settlement,  and  that  they  would  be  permitted  by 
the  government  at  home  to  enjoy  uninterrupted  liberty,  and  that 
their  domestic  institutions  would  not  be  invaded;  and  that  they 
might  be  permitted  to  choose  from  among  themselves  their  rulers 
and  local  officers,  nerved  them  and  gave  them  resolution  equal  to 
the  emergencies,  and  they  mastered  the  new  world.  P>ut  they  were 
disappointed  bv  the  mother  country,  for  English  oppression  followed 
them  to  America,  and  their  condition  was  made  worse  here  than 
it  had  been  in  the  East.  All  their  bright  hopes  and  fond  anticipa 
tions  were  at  once  blasted;  the  castles  they  had  built  in  the  air  were 
at  one  fell  swoop  demolished,  and  then  they  were  set  upon.  Act 
after  act  of  oppression,  which  challenged  condemnation  from  the 
honest  and  indignant  world,  and  which  were  of  that  heinous  char 
acter,  revolting  and  contemptible  in  the  sight  of  all  Christian 
nations,  was  imposed  upon  them.  These  acts,  aye,  everv  one  of 
them,  has  been  specified  in  blood.  The  Declaration  of  Independ 
ence,  which  has  been  read  on  this  occasion,  enumerates  them  all; 
hence,  it  obviates  the  necessity  of  my  naming  them  now.  It  will 
suffice  to  say  that  these  acts  cause  ( ieneral  ( ieorge  Washington  and 
his  noble  compatriots  to  sue  for  their  country,  their  whole  country's 
liberty;  to  fight  and  bleed  for  liberty,  and  to  gain  it. 

This  leads  us  to  discover  the  real  principles  upon  which  this  gov 
ernment  was  formed  and  sustained  through  the  revolution,  and  in 


224          ArTOlMOGKAT'IIY     OF     DK.     WILLIAM     I1KXRY     JOIIXSOX". 

so  doing',  it  is  essential  that  \ve  examine  and  consider  the  prevailing 
sentiments  of  the  fathers  at  the  period  which  gave  birth  to  the  Decla 
ration  of  Independence,  and  compare  them  with  those  which  gave 
the  Tnited  States  a  Constitution,  and  it  will  be  found  that  the  inter 
ests  of  the  people  were  quite  different,  at  that  time,  to  what  they 
were  previous  to  the  revolution.  The  War  of  the  Revolution  was 
over;  the  battles  had  been  fought;  the  conflict  for  freedom  was 
ended;  the  sword  had  been  replaced  in  the  scabbard,  there  to  remain 
until  another  call  for  its  withdrawal;  the  musket,  the  weapon  of  death 
and  destruction,  was  no  more  in  the  field;  the  soldier  was  once  more 
the  civilian,  and  peace  reigned  supreme.  The  crisis  was  over,  and 
the  American  people  felt  secure,  and  they  came  this  time  for  deliber 
ation.  All  the  selfishness,  vanity  and  arrogance  consequent  upon 
man's  success  were  then  indulged  in.  'The  ambition  for  self- 
aggrandizement  was  then  unbridled,  and,  notwithstanding  they  had 
themselves  been  slaves  to  oppression,  they  were  willing  and  ready 
to  make  slaves  of  their  fellow-men  who  had  made  them  free. 

Yes,  sir;  thirteen  years  had  rolled  around  since  the  signing  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  Many  of  the  good  and  patriotic 
fathers  who  had  figured  conspicuously  and  had  played  a  noble  part 
in  the  cause  of  universal  liberty,  and  had  acted  well  the  part  assigned 
them  in  the  great  tragedy  of  a  seven-years'  war,  had  departed  this 
life  of  vanity  and  vexation  of  heart  and  soul,  and  their  mortal 
remains  lie  buried  in  the  recesses  of  mother  earth,  but  their  immortal 
names  shall  live  unhurt  amid  the  wreck  of  matter  and  the  crush  of 
worlds  until  the  end  of  time,  and  they  shall  stand  out  in  bold  relief 
as  living  monuments  to  liberty.  Hence,  they  could  not  frown  down 
as  the\'  would  have  done,  the  base  attempts  to  pervert  the  meaning 
of  the  Declaration  and  to  enslave  one  portion  of  the  human  familv 
in  direct  violation  of  the  country's  plighted  faith. 

hi  this  convention  the  discussion  of  slavery  and  oppression  was 
tolerated.  It  was  not  so  in  1/76,  when  the  Declaration  was  under 
consideration,  when  the  great  Jefferson  presented  the  draft  of  that 
document,  and  it  was  read  in  that  hall,  but  a  short  distance  from  this 
spot,  whose  environs  are  hallowed  by  the  sacred  appellation  of  lib 
erty.  The  soldier,  the  statesman  and  the  Christian,  as  well  as  the 
cunning  politician,  were  startled  with  the  boldness  and  independence 
of  the  Declaration.  They  were  taken  by  surprise.  It  spoke  more 
than  they  anticipated;  it  demanded  more,  aye,  much  more  than  thev 
had  prepared  themselves  to  receive,  and  every  head  was  bowed  to 
the  floor,  and  the  entire  assembly  were  at  once  occupied  in  dee]) 
thought  and  profound  meditation. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OK     DR.     WILLIAM     IIKXRY     JOI1XSOX.          225 

They  were  men  who  loved  their  country,  their  homes,  their  fam 
ilies,  their  lives,  liberties  and  their  honor;  they  looked  back,  and  all 
was  gloom  and  darkness;  they  had  struggled  f()r  y^ars  under  the 
yoke  of  oppression,  thev  had  been  themselves  reduced  to  a  compara 
tive  state  of  slavery:  they  were  watched  and  tyrannized  over  like 
the  Russian  serfs. 

Soldiers  had  been  quartered  at  their  very  doors,  their  streets  were 
barricaded  by  the  IJritish  military,  and  they  were  forced  into  seem 
ing  subjection.  The  white  and  black  man  both  longed  and  prayed 
for  the  day  of  deliverance,  that  they  might  be  free. 

Slavery  at  that  period  was  not  as  it  is  now.  It  was  then  only  a 
state  dependence.  The  black  slave  and  his  white  master  were  united 
in  opposing  English  tvranny,  the  master  held  his  slave  more  from 
the  force  of  circumstances  than  any  real  desire  to  oppress  him,  and 
the  slave  felt  sure  that  his  was  a  transitory  condition.  They  both 
made  a  common  cause  of  their  grievances.  The  slave  was  free  to 
go  and  come  when  he  pleased,  but  this  was  not  the  case  with  the 
owner;  for,  wherever  he  went,  his  steps  were  watched  bv  English 
spies  and  American  tories.  and,  bv  the  wav.  there  are  lories  to-day, 
and  their  business  is  to  hunt  down  the  poor  fugitive  Xegro,  and  to 
handcuff  and  drag  him  hundreds  of  miles  from  his  home  to  be  tried 
as  a  slave,  and  to  be  remanded,  if  the  commissioner's  sense  of  honor 
and  justice  are  to  be  governed  by  the  paltry  fee  of  ten  dollars,  under 
the  sound  of  the  old  State  House  bell,  and  within  sight  of  the  hall 
where  independence  was  declared. 

Hut.  to  return  from  this  digression  to  the  main  subject.  The 
state  of  affairs  was  intolerant,  and  all  agreed  that  some  decisive  step 
should  be  taken  to  counteract  the  sea  of  oppression.  The  white 
and  black  men  sent  forth  their  best  men  to  represent  them  in  the 
Continental  Congress,  and  to  advise  ways  and  means,  by  the  aid 
of  which  the  whole  people,  irrespective  of  color  or  kind,  should 
become  free,  aye,  free,  indeed.  This  fact  plainly  gives  the  lie  to  the 
new  dogma,  which  has  just  been  put  forth  by  the  head  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  namely:  "That  this  government  was  formed  upon 
a  white  basis,  and  that  black  men  have  no  rights  which  white  men 
are  bound  to  respect." 

Xow,  sir,  I  make  bold  to  say  it  here,  that  any  man  who  endorses 
such  doctrine  must  be  either  illiterate,  and,  in  consequence,  has 
never  read  his  country's  history,  and  then  he  is  a  fool,  indeed,  and 
needs  the  sympathies  of  all  good  people:  or,  he  is  mean  and  knavish 
perverter  of  the  true  principles  of  this  republican  government,  and 
such  a  man  is  not  fit  to  be  respected,  much  less  obeyed.  The  fathers 
15 


226         AUTOiHOGRAPHV     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HE.VRV    JOHNSON. 

saw  that  procrastination  would  not  do  —  to  stand  still  was  to  die  — 
to  strike  was,  possibly,  to  die,  also  (and  there  was  the  rub),  yet,  in 
the  latter  case,  there  was  a  ray  of  hope  and  bright  anticipations  — 
in  the  first,  death  was  certain.     That  profound  silence  was  broken, 
for  John  Hancock  spoke,  and  spoke  with  matchless  eloquence  and 
force;  all  bent  a  listening  ear;  their  hearts  were  filled  and  ready  to 
break.     One  blow,  one  blow  only,  and  it  was  done;  one  step  forward, 
and  there  was  no  retreat. 

They  all  saw  the  impending  danger;  every  man  in  that  Congress 
knew  that  if  his  autograph  was  on  that  paper  —  was  but  attached 
to  the  bond  for  liberty,  and  defeat  should  overtake  them,  death  and 
a  rebel's  grave  would  be  his  reward.  That  it  was  too  grave  a  con 
sideration;  it  was  a  hard  thought  to  dwell  upon;  and  even  the  proud 
and  dignified  Hancock  hesitated  to  strike  the  blow,  and  he  sank 
down  in  his  seat.  And  then  silence  for  a  time  reigned  supreme; 
hope,  alas,  was  almost  gone.  But,  hold,  another  spoke.  When 
John  Adams  rose,  all  eyes  were  turned  upon  the  noble  and  majestic 
form  of  the  Massachusetts  patriot.  All  were  anxious  to  hear  everv 
word  which  fell  from  his  lips,  for  it  was  not  his  custom  to  speak 
often,  but,  when  he  spoke,  he  spoke  right  from  his  heart,  and  every 
word  was  like  a  ball  of  fire  borne  on  by  the  power  of  electricity. 
Drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  his  eyes  sparkling  with  the 
fire  of  a  just  indignation,  his  soul  burning  within  him  for  liberty, 
he  was  ready  to  fight,  if  that  alone  would  save  his  country.  If  her 
ransom  must  be  paid  with  blood,  he  was  ready  to  contribute  his 
share;  he  was  ready  to  do  all  this  and  more,  not  alone  for  himself; 
no,  but  for  the  liberties  of  his  countrymen,  regardless  of  their  color 
or  condition.  This  was,  indeed,  true  noblemen,  and  John  Adams 
was  a  nobleman. 

He  knew  that  the  I  )eclaration  was  true,  and  he  fully  understood 
the  importance  of  the  step  he  was  about  to  take;  he  appealed  to  his 
colleagues,  he  entreated  them  to  rise  and  strike  for  liberty  and 
independence;  he  pictured  in  glowing  colors  the  value  of  freedom 
to  man. 

His  appeal  was  irresistible,  for  he  said,  after  having  spoken  for 
more  than  four  mortal  hours:  ''  Gentlemen,  will  you  submit  to  this 
oppression  any  longer?  Shall  we  obey  a  king,  who  should  be  to  us 
a  father,  but  who  is  in  reality  a  tyrant  son?  They  may  think  that 
this  is,  and  they  may  cry,  treason,  treason,  but  I  care  not  for  their 
king;  he  is  not  mine;  I  recognize  no  power  greater  than  that 
invested  in  this  Congress,  and  the  power  of  Almighty  God,  and 
from  this  dav,  I  shall  be  free  unto  death,  and  I  shall  hold  the  man 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     \\JLLIAM     1JKXRY     JoHXSOX.          227 

in  my  suspicion  who  shrinks  from  the  responsibility,  and  refuses 
to  sign,  as  1  shall  this  Declaration." 

The  speech  electrified  the  Congress.  There  was  no  more  doubts 
and  fears  to  overcome,  but  all  rose  simultaneously,  and  rent  the  hall 
with  one  mighty  shout  for  liberty.  They  were  then  resolved,  and 
each  man  affixed  his  name  in  letters  of  living  light,  to  the  Declara 
tion  of  independence,  which  declares  that  all  men,  not  a  part,  but 
<///,  are  created  equal,  and  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator 
with  certain  inalienable  rights;  that  among  those  are  life,  liberty  and 
the  pursuit  of  happiness.  This  document  is  extant,  and  it  is,  or 
should  be,  in  every  freeman's  library.  He  should  value  it' next  to 
the  Holy  Bible.  It  should  console  the  oppressed  of  this  nation,  for 
it  assures  him  that  once,  at  least,  his  country  was  right  and  just, 
and  its  truths  are  self-evident  that  there  is  no  material  inferiority  in 
the  whole  human  family,  but  that  it  is  a  unity  and  all  mankind  are 
of  the  same  origin,  and  no  part  of  them  were  made  for  slaves  by  the 
great  Creator. 

Cpon  that  Declaration  politics  for  a  republican  form  of  govern 
ment  were  founded;  upon  it,  the  War  of  the  Revolution  was  fought, 
and  our  fathers  were  successful  in  that  noble  enterprise.  .Hut  thir 
teen  years  wrought  a  fearful  change,  and  men,  disregarding  their 
former  protestations  in  favor  of  universal  liberty,  sought  to  rob  one 
portion  of  their  brethren,  who  had  lain  down,  and  had  got  up  with 
them,  in  the  hour  of  adversity,  of  their  dearly  earned  rights,  and  in 
framing  the.  Constitution,  they  were  partially  successful,  but  not 
fully  so.  for  the  revolutionary  feeling  in  favor  of  right  and  justice 
prevented  them  from  entirelv  discarding  the  established  policy  of 
17/6,  and  this  explains  the  ambiguity  of  the  language  of  the 
(  onstitution. 

When  the  Declaration  was  put  forth,  there  was  but  one  unani 
mous  sentiment  prevailing,  and  it  was  for  freedom  for  all  men  alike. 
There  was  no  test  of  color  or  condition,  but  every  pulsation,  every 
thought,  ever\-  word  spoken,  every  blow  struck  for  liberty;  all  the 
blood  spilled  was  for  liberty.  Liberty  or  death  were  the  words  that 
were  passed  from  cam])  to  camp.  Liberty  was  the  pass-word  for 
the  sentinel,  and  it  ran  along  the  line  of  the  brave  volunteers,  and 
every  brave  soldier  drank  in  the  cry,  and  it  bore  him  on  to  glory. 
The  mechanic  was  encouraged  and  stimulated;  he  labored  with 
renewed  energv.  Timber  \vas  hewn  to  the  ground,  and  with 
unparalleled  speed  and  dispatch,  it  was  converted  into  vessels  of  war, 
and  within  eighteen  days  after  the  tree  fell,  it  Moated  on  the  high 
seas,  bearing  men  and  the  ammunitions  of  war.  with  the  banner  of 


liberty  floating  proudly  from  its  masthead,  denoting  what  the  senti 
ments  of  the  country  were.  The  farmer  left  his  plough  and  aban 
doned  his  harvest  and  his  household  affairs,  and  domestic  comforts 
were  for  a  time  forgotten,  his  only  thought  being  libertv. 

Washington,  Hamilton,  (lage,  and  a  host  of  other  self-den ving 
patriots  fought  with  gigantic  energies,  meeting  and  overturning 
every  obstacle  which  was  presented.  All  this  was  to  establish  lib 
erty,  and  a  great  principle  which  has  since  been  overturned.  That 
precious  word,  liberty,  was  sounded  by  the  trumpeter  before  day 
and  after  night;  it  was  sounded  and  resounded;  it  echoed  over  the 
sterile  mountains  of  Maine;  the  sound  was  heard  and  borne  on 
from  town  to  town,  from  city  to  city,  and  from  colony  to  colony, 
until  it  was  caught  up  and  resounded  with  treble  force  amid  the 
beautiful  and  fertile  fields  of  sunny  Georgia.  All  responded  to  the 
call,  old  and  young,  white  and  black.  They  buckled  on  their  armor 
and,  after  devoutly  praying  God  to  assist  them,  they  sallied  forth 
to  fight  for  their  birthright,  to  gain  it  or  die.  The  blood  of  the 
black  man  was  spilt  for  his  white  brother;  the  bones  of  the  black  and 
the  white  man  bleached  together  on  the  deserted  field. 

After  the  war,  both  having  suffered  in  the  conflict,  the  white  man's 
reward  was  liberty,  while  that  of  the  black  man  was  chains  and 
slavery,  and  it  is  of  this  we  complain.  For  it  is  not  in  keeping  with 
the  true  spirit  of  democracy.  Xo,  not  exactly.  For  democracy 
guarantees  ecmal  rights,  laws  and  privileges,  and  universal  and  con 
tinual  protection  to  men  of  all  colors  and  climes.  It  is  founded 
upon  the  everlasting  principle  of  justice  and  right,  its  profession 
and  creed  receive  their  sanction  from  Providence.  It  has  a  God- 
granted  dispensation,  ic  is  constituted  by  nature  and  governed  by 
wisdom;  it  has  the  entire  sanction  of  all  that  is  good,  and.  therefore, 
it  is  free  from  clouds  and  misgivings.  Its  policy  is  honesty,  and  its 
counsellors  are  common  sense;  it  has  no  partiality,  it  does  not 
plunder  the  rich,  nor  defraud  the  poor,  it  does  not  reserve  its  smiles 
for  the  fortunate,  and  frown  down  the  unhappv;  it  does  not  look 
with  ice  indifference  on  the  helpless  or  enslaved,  but  it  sympathizes 
with  all,  it  loosens  the  bands,  it  severs  the  fetters,  it  breaks  the  chains 
and  the  slave  is  disenthralled  and  made  free.  Such  is  true  democ 
racy,  such  was  the  democracy  of  the  age  of  1776;  such  were  the 
politics  that  inspired  the  noble  heroes  of  revolutionary  fame  with 
hope  and  dispelled  their  fears,  and  made  their  arms  invincible. 
These  principles  of  justice  and  equity,  wide  as  the  universe,  and  free 
as  the  mid-day  sun,  sustained  Washington,  and  crowned  his  efforts 
with  a  glorious  termination  at  Yorktown.  And,  then,  America  was 


Al'TOBTOGRAPTIV     OF     DR.     \\'ILMA.\L      1FKXRY     JOHXSON.  229 

free,  hut  all  her  inhabitants  were  not,  for  the  Constitution  failed  to 
support  the  black  man  in  his  rights,  lint  he  is  sensible  of  this 
pertinent  fact,  that  the  true  principles  for  which  he  fought  and  his 
fathers  died,  have  been  perverted  and  different  politics  applied  to 
him;  and  he  has  hoped  and  toiled  on.  and  he  has  been  true  to  his 
country,  and  is  true  to-day.  Me  believes  there  is  a  bright  day  in 
the  future;  he  believes  that  the  same  (Joel,  who  was  God  to  the  chil 
dren  of  Israel,  will  yet  right  his  wrongs,  and  that  the  time  will  come 
when  he  will  cry  out:  I  am  an  American  citizen. 

I  say  to  you,  my  fellow,  disfranchised  Americans,  go  on.  The 
pure  doctrines  of  our  fathers  must  and  will  eventually  prevail.  The 
principle  upon  which  American  independence  was  declared  and  sus 
tained  will  yet  ride  out  of  the  darkness  which  has  for  a  number  of 
years  hung  over  it.  The  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  proper 
spirit  will  actuate  the  American  people  and  render  universal  emanci 
pation  a  matter  of  necessity,  and  slavery  will  be  known  only  in  his 
tory.  All  the  civilized  nations  in  the  world  are  now  acknowledging 
the  right  of  freedom  to  all  mankind,  and  America  must  sooner  or 
later  follow  in  their  wake.  This  is  encouraging  to  the  American 
slave,  for  he  is  a  man,  endowed  by  his  Creator  with  all  the  attributes 
that  other  men  have,  and  should  be  free.  So  says  the  declaration 
of  our  independence. 

I  have  reviewed,  in  a  hurried  manner,  the  past  history  of  political 
America.  1  have  shown  that  the  revolutionary  fathers  were  actu 
ated  by  feelings  of  true  Democracy  and  love  for  their  fellow-men, 
when,  by  the  sacrifice  of  their  precious  lives,  they  dedicated  the 
western  contingent  of  the  ( Joddess  of  Libert}'.  I  have  shown  that 
the  principles  of  democracy  and  equality,  as  enunciated  by  them, 
have  been  most  shamefully  perverted,  and  it  is  patent  to  all  who 
are  familiar  with  the  history  of  our  country,  that  the  time  was  when 
the  unity  of  the  human  family  was  acknowledged,  and  then  justice 
was  awarded  to  the  black  man  as  well  as  to  the  white  by  legislators 
in  American  Congresses;  and  to  that  period  in  the  existence  of  this 
nation,  we  turn  our  thoughts  to-day  with  mingled  emotions  of  joy 
and  pride. 

Happily,  fur  this  country's  honor  and  fame,  that  period  will  never, 
never  be  forgotten.  Happily,  for  vou  and  for  me.  who  labor  under 
the  disadvantages  of  a  color,  proscription  and  abuse,  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  is  extant,  and  will  never,  no,  never  be  obliterated, 
but  it  bears  us  up  and  gives  us  hope,  and  makes  firm  the  faith  we 
have  in  the  justice  of  an  overruling  1'rovidence.  It  encourages  us 
to  live  and  to  labor  zealously  for  our  rights  here  in  America,  and 


2^0          ArTOTJIOr.K.  \P1IV     OF     DR.     WILLIAM      FfKXRY     JOFIXSOX. 

to  turn  a  deaf  car  to  all  the  entreaties  with  which  we  mav  be  impor 
tuned  to  seek  homes  in  a  foreign  land  unknown  to  us. 

Yes,  let  this  Declaration,  so  true,  so  frank,  so  honest  and  prom 
ising,  he  our  Rock  of  Ages,  and  on  it  we  must  anchor.  It  is  our 
guide.  Around  it  we  will  rail}'.  Eighty-three  years  it  has  sustained 
the  down-trodden  and  oppressed.  Jt  has  been  our  only  consolation. 
It  teaches  us  that  we  are  Americans,  and  as  such  we.  have  rights 
which  ought  to  be  respected.  Then,  let  us  resolve  this  dav  never 
to  leave  our  fatherland  and  that  we  will  raise  up  a  posterity,  and 
teach  them  that,  in  accordance  with  the  Declaration  of  "'76,"  the\ 
are  free,  and  if  we  need  must  die  bereft  of  our  dearest  hopes,  let  us 
die  like  wronged  Americans,  with  the  Declaration  of  American 
Independence  in  one  hand,  and  with  the  other  we  will  unfold  to  the 
wide  world  a  scroll  containing  the  history  of  the  wrongs,  the  oppres 
sions  and  the  enslavement  imposed  upon  us  by  this  bogus  republi 
can  government;  then,  laying  bare  our  breast,  we  will  bravelv 
receive  the  envenomed  arrow  from  the  bow  in  the  hands  of  the 
Shepherd,  who  should  be  our  succorer;  and  in  the  death  struggle 
may  our  last,  last  sad  dimmed  gaze  rest  upon  the  flag  —  the  stars 
and  stripes,  the  red,  white  and  blue  — •  which  should  have  been  true. 
but  was  false,  false  to  us. 


HON.   K.  E.  rool'KR, 

Kditor  of  •'  rulon-d  Anx-riran,"  Wa>hiiiL'tuii,  D.  C. 


£  •? 


THE  LATH  CAPTAIN  ROBERT  DAVIDSON. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON.          235 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ix  SLAVERY  DAYS. 
(Lecture  by   \Yni.  H.  Johnson,  delivered  in   Albany.) 

Mr.  Chairman,  Fellow-Countrymen .—  To-day  your  children  and 
mine,  Anglo-Saxon  and  Negro-Americans  alike,  peaceably,  happily 
and  eontentedlv  inhabit  a  country  upon  whose  free  soil,  thank  God, 
no  slave  again  can  tread. 

The  very  earth  under  our  feet  is  consecrated  anew  through  the 
genius  of  liberty.  The  indefatigable  efforts  and  untiring  devotion 
of  self-denying1  patriots  of  past  generations  to  freedom,  still,  in  the 
natural  course  of  human  events,  the  recollection  of  the  illustrious 
John  Brown,  Frederick  Douglass,  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  Wendell 
Phillips,  Solomon  P.  Chase,  the  Lovejoys,  Gerritt  Smith,  Harriet 
Heedier  Stowe,  John  C.  Fremont  and  other  compatriots  in  the  free- 
soil  movement,  engaged  in  the  early  crusade  against  slavery  and 
oppression,  will  live  and  flourish  in  the  grateful  memories  of  the  new 
citizens  as  martyrs  to  freedom  and  humanity  for  many  generations 
to  come.  They  furnished  the  skirmish  line  in  the  fight  and  forced 
on  the  rebellion.  They  loved  liberty,  abhorred  slavery,  were  patri 
ots  to  freedom,  believing  in  the  brotherhood  of  man,  the  fatherhood 
of  God. 

They  held,  too,  a  higher  law  doctrine,  that  the  federal  Constitution 
was  subordinate  to  the  rights  of  man.  They  believed  in  the  truths 
declared  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  namely:  That  all  men 
are  born  free,  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain 
inseparable  rights,  among  which  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of 
happiness. 

For  the  maintenance  of  these  principles  they  were  willing  to 
jeopardize  liberty  and  life;  still,  like  Lord  Broham  and  Wilberforce, 
who  contributed  more  substantially  to  the  emancipation  of  slavery 
in  the  British  West  India  Islands,  in  1833,  than  any  others,  their 
names  and  their  deeds  will  fade  out  of  memory  as  time  rolls  on. 
Such,  however,  will  not  be  the  case  with  Abraham  Lincoln's  fame. 
A  hundred  and  more  years  hence  his  name  will  appear  emblazoned 
in  history,  together  with  that  of  George  Washington.  Washing- 
ion's  memory  will  be  revered  by  surviving"  generations  as  the 


AUTOJlIOr.KAIMlY     OF     DR.     WILLFAM     HKXKY     JOFIXSOX. 

father  of  our  country.  Abraham  Lincoln's  name  will  be  canonized 
as  the  saviour  and  restorer  of  our  I'nion. 

It  will  he  as  a  wise,  conscientious,  discreet,  fearless  and  patriotic 
statesman  that  Lincoln's  name  will  live  immortal,  not  as  an  emanci 
pator  of  slaves  or  the  special  friend  of  the  Xegro.  That  portion  of 
his  history  will  grow  dimmer  as  time  grows  older.  It  will  eventu 
ally  be  blotted  from  the  calendar  of  events. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  wonderful  man.  l>orn  in  Kentucky,  a  border 
slave  State,  of  parentage  too  poor  to  buy  and  hold  slaves,  his  educa 
tion,  such  as  it  was,  was  obtained  among  the  poor  whites  of  that 
State.  He  moved  across  the  border  line  into  Illinois  before  he  was 
rich  enough  to  purchase  a  slave,  if  he  had  been  disposed  to  have' 
done  so.  In  this  respect  he  was  unlike  George  Washington; 
Washing-ton  was  a  slave  owner  during  his  life,  emancipating  them 
at  his  death. 

Abraham  Lincoln  never  owned  a  slave,  and,  as  far  as  we  know. 
never  sympathized  with  the  accursed  institution.  The  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  down  to  1865,  was  pro-slavery.  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  strangely,  truly  and  emphatically  a  strict  constructionist,  never 
allowing  his  private  opinions  on  religious,  political  or  humane 
questions  to  interfere  with  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  public  duties 
to  the  State  and  people.  Such  a  man  as  he  was  just  the  man.  above 
all  other  men,  to  occupy  the  presidential  chair,  to  fill  the  high 
and  commanding  position  of  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  and 
Xavy  of  the  United  States,  during  that  eventful  period  between  1861 
and  1865. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  L 'resident  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 
1860.  The  Republican  party  consisted  of  a  combination  of  three 
separate  but  kindred  political  elements,  the  first  being  the  Old 
Liberty  of  Free  Soil  party,  a  higher  law  party.  Its  primary  object 
was  the  overthrow  of  slavery  and  the  full  recognition  of  the  rights 
of  men  upon  the  broad  principle  as  announced  in  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  the  Magna  Charta  of  liberty,  and  that,  without 
regard  to  the  Constitution  and  the  laws  of  this  land  to  the  contrary. 
Conspicuous  upon  their  roll  of  honor  were  such  men  as  Wendell 
Phillips,  Frederick  Douglass,  Cassius  M.  Clay,  Male,  Julian,  (lerrit 
Smith  and  Charles  Sumner. 

The  second  was  that  wing  of  the  old  Whig  party,  who.  while 
opposed  to  slavery,  recognized  and  accepted  the  constitutionality  of 
the  institution  in  the  several  States  where  it  existed  when  the  Con 
stitution  was  adopted  and  the  compact  was  founded.  They  did  not 
desire  to  interfere  with  the  States-right  dogma,  but  were  emphati- 


AI'TOIJIOCK. \IMIY     OF     DR.     \\II.LI.\.\1      MF.YKY     JOHNSON*.  237 

callv  opposed  to  permitting  the  extension  of  slavery  beyond  its  then 
existing  limits.  Prominent  among  its  leaders  were  William  H. 
Seward.  Thurlow  Weed,  Horace  (ireely,  Salmon  1*.  C'hase,  John 
A.  Andrews,  Chester  A.  Arthur  and  Roscoe  Conkling.  The  third 
was  that  aggressive  element  of  the  old  Democratic  party  known 
as  Darn  Burners  or  Kree  Soilers.  They  were  loyal  to  the  I'nion, 
believed  in  States'  rights,  but  were  opposed  to  the  extension  of 
slaverv  and  against  the  enforcement  of  the  odious  fugitive  slave  law. 
Rallied  under  their  banner  was  Winter  Davis,  David  A.  IJroder- 
ick.  Ldward  M.  Stanton,  Martin  Van  I>uren.  I'lysses  S.  (irant.  John 
A.  Logan  and  (leneral  David  Hunter. 

Those  elements  formed  the  Republican  party.  They  met  in  con 
vention  at  Chicago,  111.,  in  1860,  and  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln 
for  President  and  Hanibal  llamlin  for  Vice- 1 'resident,  upon  a  plat 
form  reaffirming  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  pledging 
unfaltering  maintenance  of  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  federal  Consti 
tution.  Thus  it  will  be  seen,  that  when  Air.  Lincoln  was  chosen 
President,  he  was  not  altogether  in  an  enviable  position. 

He  represented  three  separate  and  distinct  elements  in  politics, 
each  holding  different  views  as  to  the  solution  of  the  slavery  cities- 
lion,  all  opposed  to  its  extension,  none,  save  the  old  Spartan  band 
of  the  Libert v  party,  contending  for  its  total  abrogation  without 
compromise. 

In  that  memorable  presidential  contest,  that  of  1860,  there  was 
a  quadrangular  fight.  Bell  and  Lvarts,  native  Americans,  friendly 
to  slavery;  1  >reckenbridge  and  Lane,  pro-slavery,  believing  in  the 
Divine  right  of  property  in  man;  Douglas  and  Litzpatrick,  neutral 
on  the  subject  of  slavery  as  it  affected  the  then  slave  States,  but  in 
favor  of  the  people  in  new  territories  determining  the  slave  question 
by  popular  vote,  popular  sovereignty. 

Lincoln  and  Hanilin,  Republicans,  pledged  to  the  restriction  of 
slavery  to  the  then  existing  slave  States.  This  attitude  was  regarded 
by  the  South  as  a  death  blow  aimed  at  the  institution.  The  success 
of  this  party  upon  such  a  platform  was  regarded  as  meaning  the 
smoothening  out  of  slavery  by  constitutional  limitations.  The  elec 
tion  resulted  in  a  victory  for  the  Republican  coalition  by  a  popular 
vote  of  1.866,350,  beating  the  three  competitors  by  a  handsome 
plurality. 

This  aggressive  sentiment  crystallized  into  practical  offensive 
movement,  in  the  light  of  past  unfriendly  events,  alarmed  the  South, 
together  with  her  contempt  for  "  Abe  "  Lincoln,  the  rail-splitter, 
whom  the  southern  fire-eaters  were  pleased  to  call  a  northern  mud- 


238          AL'TOnior.KAI'HY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     JIKXRV     JOIIXSON'. 

sill,  precipitated  the  war  of  the  rebellion;  on  the  i2th  day  of  April. 
1861,  Fort  Su  niter  was  fired  upon,  and  the  war  for  separation  and 
slave  domination  formally  inaugurated  by  the  South. 

Mr.  Lincoln  immediately  issued  a  patriotic  proclamation,  calling 
for  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers  for  three  months.  The  call 
was  cheerfully  and  with  alacrity  responded  to,  but  the  Xegro  volun 
teers,  and  they  were  many,  were  not  accepted.  We  were  plainly 
told  that  the  war  would  not  be  conducted  for  the  liberation  of  the 
slaves,  but  solely  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion,  the  restoration 
of  the  Union. 

We  are  confronted  with  stubborn  conditions,  not  theories.  What 
brought  on  the  rebellion  is  the  pertinent  question.  The  federal 
Constitution  protected  slavery  in  the  States.  The  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States  had  so  decided.  All  parties,  except  the  Higher 
Law  party,  the  Old  Liberty  party,  had  assented  to  that  dogma. 
Still  the  South  saw  the  handwriting  on  the  wall.  The  fiat  had  gone 
forth  that  the  crime  against  Cod  and  humanity  must  die.  The 
South  fought  for  life  and  for  new  dominion,  for  new  breathing  places 
for  slavery.  The  seeds  that  led  to  the  outbreaking  of  the  rebellion 
were  sown  in  the  forties. 

Harriet  Reecher  Stowe's  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  "  had  inflamed 
northern  sentiment,  fired  the  northern  breast.  The  passage  of  the 
odious  fugitive  slave  law  in  1850  and  its  enforcement  in  the  Anthonv 
Burns  case  in  the  city  of  Boston,  the  cradle  of  liberty,  together  with 
the  boast  of  Robert  Tooms,  of  Ceorgia,  that  he  would  call  the  roll 
of  his  slaves  under  the  very  shado>w  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument  at 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  added  to  the  flame  of  the  just  indignation  that 
burned  in  the  northern  breast. 

Frederick  Douglass's  eloquence,  his  scathing  denunciation  of  the 
crime  against  humanity,  the  brutal  attack  on  Charles  Sunnier  in 
the  Senate  Chamber,  by  Representative  Brooks,  of  South  Carolina, 
all  tended  to  intensifv  just  resentment  to  the  unwarranted  encroach 
ment  of  the  South. 

Resolves  were  made  to  stay  the  onward  march  of  the  monster, 
slavery.  The  South  looked  on  with  dismay  and  astonishment.  She 
had  had  things  go  all  her  way.  She  had  intimidated  the  North. 
She  had  gone  one  step  too  far,  and  John  Brown  was  allowed  to  raid 
the  South.  He  carried  consternation  and  alarm  into  the  stronghold 
of  the  South.  He  attacked  with  a  handful  of  men  their  citadel  and 
placed  her  upon  defense. 

The  South  saw  then  that  there  were  two  sides  to  the  Xegro  ques 
tion.  That  the  sentiment  of  the  North  was  crystallizing  against  her. 


AUTOlJJOGRAPHY     <  )1<      DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY     JOHXSOX.          239 

That  she  could  domineer  no  longer.  She  became  alarmed  lest  sla 
very  should  slip  from  under  her  embrace.  To  save  herself,  and  to 
gain  time,  she  threw  down  the  gauntlet,  defied  the  North;  as  a  last 
resort,  she  repudiated  the  Constitution,  and  resorted  to  arms. 

The  northern  heart  responded,  elected  honest  old  Abraham 
Lincoln  as  President.  His  election  fooled  both  the  Xorth  and  the 
South  in  a  measure.  The  South  underrated  his  abilities,  counted 
upon  his  sympathies  and  lack  of  pluck.  They  called  him  a  mud-sill, 
a  poor  white  southern  renegade,  unfit  for  the  association  of  southern 
gentlemen,  unfit  to  represent  a  nation's  cause:  but,  open  and  suscep 
tible  to  southern  blandishment,  they  argued  that  it  was  only  neces 
sary  for  them  to  make  a  show  of  resistance,  to  have  old  "  Abe  " 
surrender.  In  keeping1  with  this  foolish  purpose,  they  fired  on  Fort 
Sumter,  tore  down  and  trampled  on  "  Old  Glory,"  ran  up  in  its 
place  the  rebel  rag  to  frighten  the  "  rail-splitter  "  into  splitting  hairs 
with  them,  but  the  sequel  proved  that  they  counted  without  their 
host.  Mr.  Lincoln  proved  to  them  and  to  the  country,  as  well  as 
to  the  world  at  large,  that  as  1 'resident  he  was  a  statesman  devoid 
of  hate. 

In  like  manner  the  northern  abolitionists  were  disappointed.  Air. 
Lincoln  gave  them  no  hope,  no  assurance  that  he  would,  as  Presi 
dent,  interfere  with  the  institution  of  slavery  other  than  as  a  military 
necessity  and  under  the  Constitution.  He  never  did.  Would  to 
( iocl  that  there  were  no  others  in  office  than  such  as  he.  During 
the  time  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  President,  he  seemed  to  have  lost  his 
personal  identity.  He  was  the  State.  He  represented  the  sov 
ereignty  of  the  people.  He  stood  erect  upon  the  Constitution  and 
for  the  execution  of  the  laws,  not  as  he  would  have  made  them,  but 
as  he  found  them,  when  he  subscribed  to  the  oath  of  office  at  tin- 
east  front  of  the  Xational  Capitol,  in  the  hearing  of  sixty  millions 
of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  brought  the  country  safely  through  the 
throes  of  cessation  and  disloyalty  to  complete  restoration  and 
union,  and  that,  too,  with  the  seeds  of  emancipation  planted  in  the 
body  politic,  from  which  it  grew  into  the  Constitution,  and  forever 
blotted  out  from  the  face  of  the  land  the  accursed  slave  system. 

Mr.  Lincoln  died,  however,  eight  months  and  three  days  before 
slavery  was  constitutionally  abolished,  but  he  did  enough  during 
the  brief  period  of  four  years,  one  month  and  eleven  days,  to  not 
only  endear  himself  to  every  American  citizen  for  his  fair  and  hon 
est  statesmanship,  but  especially  to  commend  himself  to  the  lasting 
gratitude  of  Xegro-Americans;  because  of  his  manly  and  lofty  atti 
tude  in  accounting  the  credit  of  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion,  the 


24O          Al'TOP.HKiKAL'MY     OK     DK.     WILLIAM      11KXRY     JOII.XSOX. 

complete  reunion  of  the  States,  to  that  contingent  of  the  army  and 
navy  of  1863  and  '64  recruited  to  the  number  of  178,975  black  men 
in  blue  uniforms,  the  result  of  his  emancipation  proclamation  of 
January  i.  1863.  armed,  equipped  and  marched  against  their  old 
masters.  According  to  official  figures,  36,847  Xegroes  lost  their 
lives  upon  the  field  of  battle  in  defense  of  the  old  flag. 

Mr.  Lincoln  did  nothing  absolutely  tor  the  Negro  as  such.  He 
did  everything  for  the  Xegro  in  that  he  made  it  possible  for  the 
Xegro  to  participate  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  and  restora 
tion  of 'the  I'nion  by  mingling  his  blood  upon  the  same  fields  with 
that  of  his  white  compatriot's  blood.  Mr.  Lincoln  never  drew  the 
color  line.  1  le  was  too  great  for  that. 

I  address  myself  to  the  younger  generation,  especially  to  the 
voting  men  of  mv  race.  I  tell  them  that  they  are  free  American 
citizens  without  unv  mortgage  resting  against  them.  The  country 
owes  you  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  two  things;  first,  for  the  patient 
sufferings  of  \our  ancestors  during  the  one  hundred  years  and  more 
of  enforced  bondage  at  the  South,  for  which  the  general  government 
was  responsible.  Then  for  the  bravery  and  heroism  displayed  by 
the  178,9/5  Xegro  soldiers,  your  ancestors,  that  turned  the  tide  in 
favor  of  the  I'nion  cause. 

After  thirty  years  of  peace  the  time  has  certainly  come  when  the 
truth  of  history  touching  the  rebellion  and  the  valor  of  the  Xegro 
should  be  told.  It  will  then  be  demonstrated  that  the  stone  that 
was  at  first  rejected  became  at  last  "  the  cope-stone,"  the  key  to  the 
situation,  "  the  straw  that  broke  the  camel's  back,"  and  will  silence 
forever  the  silly  talk  by  not  well-informed  parties  as  to  which  side 
the  debt  of  gratitude  lies  on. 

The  Xegro-American  earned  his  freedom  by  his  valor  and  his 
sacrifice  on  the  field  of  battle,  his  full  citizenship  and  enfranchise 
ment  as  a  just  bounty  freely  voted  by  the  people,  for  his  faithfulness 
to  the  cause  ot  a  reunited  countrv. 

During  the  progress  of  the  war.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  often  impor 
tuned  to  emancipate  the  slaves  upon  humane  principles.  He 
refused.  He  was  not  a  humanitarian,  but  was  President.  Time 
rolled  on,  our  armies  met  with  defeat  after  defeat,  the  cause  of  the 
Confederacy  seemed  to  prosper.  Southern  leaders  grew  imper 
tinent,  boasted  of  ultimate  success.  They  were  assisted  on  the  field 
by  their  able-bodied  slaves.  Their  slaves  were  utilized  in  building- 
fortifications,  breast-works,  railroads,  and  growing  the  provender 
which  the  Confederated  Army  subsisted  upon,  as  well  as  their 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   J>R.   WILLIAM   HKXRY  JOHNSON.       241 

families  at  home,  thus  permitting  every  white  Southerner  to  be 
active  on  the  field. 

Mr.  Lincoln  knew  all  this  and  more,  still  he  pleaded  with  the 
South  to  cease  hostilities,  return  to  the  Union  and  retain  all  their 
slaves.  He  wrote  in  answer  to  Horace  Greely's  appeal,  that  if  he 
could,  as  President,  restore  the  Union  without  freeing'  a  single 
slave,  he  would  do  it.  If  he  found  it  necessary  to  free  one-half  and 
let  the  other  half  remain  in  slavery,  he  would  do  that.  If  he  found 
it  necessary  to  set  them  all  free  to  save  the  Union,  he  would  do  that. 

He  declared  writh  emphasis  that  he  was  not  dealing  with  the 
slave  question,  that  it  was  incidentally  a  side  issue  forced  upon  the 
country  to  complicate  matters.  His  mission  was  to  restore  the 
Union.  He  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  all  entreaties  looking  to  the 
emancipation  of  slavery  upon  any  other  than  military  necessity, 
knowing  that  that  was  the  highest  possible  ground  to  stand  upon 
for  the  future  benefit  of  the  Xegro's  manhood. 

Fremont  in  the  West,  and  Hunter  at  Port  Royal,  commanders  of 
departments,  issued  proclamations  freeing  the  slaves  in  their  lines; 
Mr.  Lincoln  repudiated  them  both.  Slaves  were  returned  to  their 
masters  until  Benjamin  F.  Jiutler  refused  farther  to  do  so,  upon 
the  grounds  that  they  were  contraband  of  war.  Mr.  Lincoln  went 
so  far  in  the  interest  of  the  Union  cause  as  to  visit  Hampton  Roads, 
\  a.,  in  1865,  under  Mag  of  truce.  He  pleaded  with  the  southern 
leaders  to  lay  down  their  arms,  return  to  the  Union,  and  retain  their 
slaves.  It  is  a  trueism  "  that  whom  the  gods  would  destroy  they 
first  make  mad."  Mr.  Lincoln  knew  that  the  gods  had  determined 
to  destroy  the  South.  Me  recognized  their  madness.  He  was 
right. 

( )n  the  22(1  of  September,  1862,  Mr.  Lincoln  issued  his  proclama 
tion,  warning  the  South  officially  that  if  they  did  not  lay  down 
their  arms  and  cease  hostilities  before  the  1st  day  of  January,  1863, 
he,  as  President  of  the  United  States,  would  emancipate  the  slaves  in 
all  the  States  and  parts  of  a  State  then  in  rebellion  against  the 
government  of  the  United  States  and  would  do  so  upon  military 
necessity. 

Then  light  began  to  break  upon  us;  we  realized  beyond  the 
perad venture  of  a  doubt  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  the  right  man  in  the 
right  place.  This  primary  proclamation  warning  the  rebels  to  lay 
down  their  arms  and  return  to  the  Union,  promising  compensation 
to  loyal  Southerners  for  the  loss  of  their  slaves  in  consequence  of 
the  war  and  reaffirming  his  purpose  looking  to  the  colonization  of 

16 


242          AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     XYILLIAM     ifliXRY     JOHNSON. 

all  free  Negroes  that  might  be  found  willing  to  be  deported.  (See 
the  Proclamation  on  page  208.) 

This  is  the  full  and  verbatim  text  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  proclamations; 
there  is  not  one  word  of  sympathy  expressed,  not  one  line  or  syllable 
touching  personal  liking  or  dislike;  all  is  based  upon  constitutional 
obligation  and  military  necessity.  Mr.  Lincoln,  as  President  of  the 
United  States  and  Commander  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  having  con 
cluded  upon  mature  consideration  that  the  rebellion  could  not  be 
suppressed  without  the  aid  of  the  Negroes  as  armed  allies,  said  so. 
and  made  the  declaration  over  his  own  official  signature  without 
reservation.  There  is  nothing  evasive  in  his  utterances,  no  special 
pleadings  in  the  case.  The  issue  and  the  responsibility  were  met 
and  embraced.  He  had  endeavored  to  restore  the  Union  without 
considering  the  Negro  as  a  factor.  He  had  failed  to  do  so  and  he 
knew  that  two  years  of  disastrous  war  had  proven  that  the  South, 
with  its  slaves,  as  the  bearers  of  burden  and  drawers  of  water,  form 
ing  the  labor  contingent  to  the  active  men  in  the  field  was  over 
balancing  and  over-matching  the  forces  available  on  the  Union  side, 
bless  his  sainted  memory,  did.  under  the  Constitution,  draw  off 

Becoming  thoroughly  convinced  of  this  fact,  Mr.  Lincoln,  God 
bless  his  sainted  memory,  did,  under  the  Constitution,  draw  off 
that  supply  product  and  motor  power  and  added  it  to  the  Union 
strength.  He  did  so  upon  unqualified  military  necessity,  thus 
dignifying  in  the  highest  possible  sense  the  services  of  the  freedmen. 

There  was  no  cant  about  humanity;  the  issue  was  squarely  met. 
The  patriotism  and  valor  of  the  Negro  was  finally  tested;  the  result 
justified  Mr.  Lincoln's  highest  expectations;  the  bubble  of  rebellion 
burst.  In  one  year  the  rebellion  proved  a  failure.  White  and 
black  men  divided  the  honors  equally;  both  had  contributed  their 
quota  in  blood,  muscle  and  life  for  the  restoration  of  our  glorious 
Union. 

The  new  citizens  are  led  to  believe  that  Mr.  Lincoln  issued  his 
proclamation  freeing  the  slaves  through  pure  love  and  deep  concern 
for  them;  the  facts  do  not  bear  this  construction.  He  did  so  for  no 
other  reason  than  to  use  the  Negro  as  a  potent  instrument  tending 
to  the  defeat  of  the  rebels  and  the  restoration  of  the  Union.  It  is 
seen  that  Air.  Lincoln  only  abolished  slavery  in  the  State  or  parts  of 
States  in  actual  rebellion  against  the  Union.  He  left  slavery  intact 
in  all  the  States  and  territories  that  were  at  the  time  loyal  to  the 
general  government  and  covered  by  the  grand  old  flag.  It  is  seen 
also,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  willing  to  compensate  every  LTnion  slave 
owner  whose  slave  was  set  free  because  of  the  circumstance  of  his, 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF    DR.     WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.         243 

the  owner,  being  a  resident  of  a  rebellious  State  or  part  of  a  State  at 
the  time  of  the  proclamation.  It  is  also  seen  that  Air.  Lincoln  was 
in  favor  of  colonizing  out  of  the  States  every  free  Negro  who  would 
give  his  consent  to  be  deported.  Jt  is  also  seen  that  Mr.  Lincoln  in 
dealing  with  the  question  of  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion, 
expressed  not  one  word  of  sympathy  for  the  Negro  as  a  slave,  or  for 
his  comfort  and  happiness  when  turned  loose  and  arrayed  against 
his  old  master. 

Read  for  yourselves  the  proclamations;  note  their  language; 
then  tell  me  who  are  the  obligated  parties.  In  view  of  the  fact 
that  the  success  of  the  Union  cause  was  extremely  doubtful,  hung 
in  the  balance,  until  Mr.  Lincoln  by  proclamation  informed  the 
slaves  in  the  rebellious  States  that  they  were  free;  no  longer  to  be 
denied  admittance  into  the  Union  lines;  that  their  liberties  would  be 
protected  so  long  as  they  were  loyal  to  the  Union  cause.  That 
information  drew  nearly  two  hundred  thousand  Negroes  from 
labor  in  the  rebel  States  and  added  that  number  to  the  Union 
army. 

The  proclamation  was  received  by  man}'  with  shouts  of  approba 
tion.  It  was  regarded  by  all  such  as  the  death  knell  to  the  rebel 
lion.  Still  there  were  those  who  distrusted  Mr.  Lincoln's  policy. 
They  found  fault  because  emancipation  had  not  been  general. 
They  could  not  understand  how  the  President  could  emancipate 
the  slaves  in  the  rebel  lines,  and  permit  those  in  the  Union  lines, 
over  which  he  had  control,  to  remain  in  slavery.  This  was  regarded 
as  cruel  mockery.  The  Republican  party,  the  war  party,  divided  on 
that  issue.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  made  the  target  of  the  Old  Liberty 
and  Free  Soil  element.  Wendell  Phillips  came  to  Albany  in  1863, 
and  spoke  in  Tweddle  Hall  under  the  auspices  of  the  Young  Men's 
Association.  I  heard  him  myself.  He  criticised  Lincoln  as  being 
false  to  the  cause  of  universal  emancipation  and  as  trifling  with  the 
slave  question.  Frederick  Douglass  reluctantly  declared  that  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  in  dealing  with  the  rebellion,  used  his  white  hand 
before  him  and  his  black  hand  behind  him. 

In  the  National  Republican  Convention  of  1864,  when  a  successor 
to  Mr.  Lincoln  was  to  be  nominated,  opposition  of  a  formidable 
character  was  developed  against  his  renomination.  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  of  Ohio;  Charles  Sunnier,  Thaddeus  Stephens,  John  A. 
Logan,  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  and  many  other  former  supporters  were 
arrayed  against  him.  When  Mr.  Lincoln  was  asked  what  he 
thought  of  the  situation,  he  responded  by  saying  "  that  he  regarded 
it  as  poor  policy  to  swap  horses  while  crossing  a  stream." 


244      At'ToiJior.uAPiiY   OF    i>R.   WILLIAM   IIKXRY  JOHNSON* 

Notwithstanding  the  opposition  Mr.  Lincoln  was  renominated 
and  re-elected ;  the  rebellion  suppressed,  the  Union  restored.  Then 
followed  the  reconstruction  of  the  rebel  States.  An  amendment  to 
the  Constitution  was  speedily  passed  in  the  United  States  Senate 
early  in  1864.  It  is  known  as  the  Thirteenth  Amendment,  and 
reads  as  follows : 

"  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  except  as  a  punish 
ment  for  crime  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted, 
shall  exist  in  the  United  States  or  any  place  subject  to  its 
jurisdiction." 

The  final  vote  was  taken  on  that  all-important  amendment  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  January  31,  1865.  It  was  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  one  hundred  and  nineteen  against  fifty-six,  eight  members 
not  voting.  Among  the  Democrats  who  recorded  themselves  in 
the  affirmative,  were  Messrs.  F.  O'Dell  and  John  A.  Griswold,  of 
New  York;  Joseph  Bailey,  of  Pennsylvania;  Ezra  Wheeler,  of  Wis 
consin,  and  A.  C.  Baldwell,  of  Michigan.  It  \vas  submitted  to  the 
people  immediately  for  ratification.  Upon  Mr.  Lincoln's  learning 
of  the  passage  of  the  amendment  by  the  two  houses,  and  that  it  had 
been  submitted  for  ratification,  said:  "  This  amendment  is  a  king's 
cure-all  —  for  all  the  evils  —  it  winds  the  whole  thing  up.  It  com 
pletes  the  new  birth  of  freedom."  These  were  the  last  utterances 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  ever  known  to  make  on  the  subject  of  freedom. 

On  the  1 4th  of  April,  1865,  he  was  cruelly,  brutally  assassinated. 
He  died  the  next  morning.  The  States  ratified  the  amendment. 
Its  adoption  as  part  of  the  federal  Constitution  was  officially  pro 
mulgated  December  18,  1865,  by  William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of 
the  United  States,  and  human  slavery  ceased  to  exist  that  day  in  this 
regenerated  land. 

The  Fourteenth  Amendment  to  the  Constitution  was  proclaimed 
|ulv  28.  1868.  It  recognized  the  Negro  as  a  citizen.  ( )n  March 
20,  1870,  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  to  the  Constitution,  the  cope- 
stone  to  the  Negro's  enfranchisement  and  complete  investure  with 
all  the  rights,  privileges  and  prerogatives  of  full  American  citizen 
ship  was  promulgated  and  the  Negro-American's  manhood  con 
stitutionally  established. 

]  have  endeavored  to  show  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  not  an  abolition 
ist  in  the  sense  that  the  term  is  understood.  That  he  as  President 
acknowledged  the  constitutionality  and  the  legality  of  slavery  as  far 
as  it  existed  in  the  then  existing  southern  States. 

I  desire,  also,  to  show  that  he  so  expressed  himself  in  a  corre 
spondence  with  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  the  vice-president  of  the 
so-called  Southern  Confederacy,  immediately  after  his  election  in 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     ITEXRY     JOIINSOX.          245 

i8(>o,  and  before  his  inauguration  in  1861.  To  this  end,-  1  submit 
the  full  text  of  the  correspondence  and  beg  you  to  carefully  note 
the  dates  as  well  as  the  phraseology  of  the  letters: 

MR.   LINCOLN  TO   MR.  STELMIENS. 

SPRIXGFIELD,   ILL.,  Xo-rember  30,    1860. 
Ho.\.  A.  11.  STEPIIEXS: 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  I  have  read  in  the  newspapers  your  speech, 
recently  delivered  (I  think),  before  the  ( ieorgia  Legislature,  or  its 
assembled  members. 

If  you  have  revised  it,  as  is  probable,  I  shall  be  much  obliged  to 
you  if  you  will  send  me  a  copy. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

FRO.M  MR.  STEPHEXS  TO  MR.  LIXCOLX. 

CRAWFORD VILLE,  GA.,  December  14,  1860. 

MY  DEAR  SIR. —  Your  short  and  polite  note  of  the  3Oth  ult.,  ask 
ing  for  a  revised  copy  of  the  speech  to  which  you  refer,  was  not 
received  until  late  last  night.  The  newspaper  report  of  the  speech 
has  never  been  revised  by  me.  The  notes  of  the  reporter  were  sub 
mitted  to  me  and  corrected  to  some  extent  before  being  published, 
but  not  so  thoroughly  as  1  could  have  wished.  The  report  was 
substantially  correct.  If  I  had  had  any  idea  that  it  would  have  been 
so  extensively  circulated  as  it  has  been,  and  been  republished  in  so 
many  places  throughout  the  country  as  it  has  been,  I  should  have 
prepared  a  copy  for  the  press  in  the  first  instance.  But  I  had  no 
such  thought,  and,  therefore,  let  the  report  go  as  it  did.  There  are 
several  verbal  inaccuracies  in  it.  but  the  main  points  appear  suffi 
ciently  clear  for  all  practical  purposes.  The  country  is  certainly  in 
great  peril,  and  no  man  ever  had  heavier  or  greater  responsibilities 
resting  upon  him  than  you  have  in  the  present  momentous  crisis. 
Yours,  most  respectfully, 

ALEXANDER  H.  STEPHENS. 

Hnx.  A HR. \II.\M  Li. \COEX,  Springfield,  III. 

REPLY  OF  MR.  LIXCOLX. 
(For  your  own  eye  only.) 

SPRINGFIELD,  ILL.,  December  22,  1860. 
Hox.  A.  H.  STEPHENS: 

MY  DEAK  SIR. —  Your  obliging  answer  to  my  short  note  is  just 
received,  and  for  which  please  accept  my  thanks.  I  fully  appre- 


240          Al.'TOKIOGKAIMIY     OF     DK.     WILLIAM     HENRY     JOHXSON. 

ciate  the  present  peril  the  country  is  in,  and  the  weight  of  respon 
sibility  on  me. 

Do  the  people  of  the  South  really  entertain  fears  that  a  Repub 
lican  administration  would,  directly  or  indirectly,  interfere  with 
their  slaves,  or  with  them  about  their  slaves? 

If  they  do  I  wish  to  assure  you,  as  once  a  friend,  and  still,  I  hope-, 
not  an  enemy,  that  there  is  no  cause  for  such  fears.  The  South 
would  be  in  no  more  danger  in  this  respect  than  it  would  be  in  the 
days  of  Washington.  I  suppose,  however,  this  does  not  meet  tin- 
case.  You  think  slavery  is  right,  and  ought  to  be  extended;  while 
we  think  it  is  wrong,  and  ought  to  be  restricted.  That,  I  suppose, 
is  the  rub.  It  certainly  is  the  only  substantial  difference  between  us. 

Yours  very  truly, 

A.   LINCOLN. 

\o  comments  are  necessary  here.  It  is  simply  historical  rex-ela 
tion,  undeniable  facts. 

It  has  been  assumed  that  the  Proclamation  of  September  22,  1862, 
and  January  i,  1863,  abolished  slavery.  l>ut  Mr.  Lincoln  evidently 
did  not  so  regard  it  as  the  letter  will  attest: 

Exi'XT'TivK  MANSIOX,  .////v  18,  1864. 
To  II  Twin  it  Ma\  Concern: 

Any  proposition  which  embraces  the  restoration  of  peace,  the 
integrity  of  the  whole  Union  and  the  abandonment  of  slavery,  and 
comes  by  and  with  ;in  authority  that  can  control  the  armies  now  at 
war  against  the  United  States  will  be  received  and  considered  by  the 
Executive  Government  of  the  United  States  and  will  be  met  by 
liberal  terms,  on  substantial  and  collateral  points,  and  the  bearer  or 
bearers  thereof  shall  have  safe  conduct  both  ways. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

It  is  seen  that  this  letter  was  written  one  year,  six  months  and 
eighteen  days  after  the  issuing  of  the  Proclamation,  and  still  Mr. 
Lincoln  is  found  discussing  the  question  of  the  abandonment  of 
slavery  seeking  terms  with  the  South  looking  to  its  abrogation. 

Hon.  Henry  Watterson,  of  the  Louisville  Courier-Journal,  in  a 
speech  delivered  in  the  West,  in  which  he  holds  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  a  true  friend  to  the  South  points  out  how  the  South  could  have 
saved  slaves  even  as  late  as  January,  1865,  two  years  subsequent  to 
the  date  of  the  promulgation  of  the  so-called  Emancipation  Procla 
mation  had  the  Confederate  leaders  accepted  his  preferred  terms. 

Mr.  \Yatterson,  in  speaking  of  that  remarkable  interview  at 
Hampton  Roads,  in  1865,  between  'President  Lincoln  and  Secretary 


z 

<      £ 


•a  '    S 


o 


ATTOniOGR. \PTIY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     ITRXKV     JOUXSOX.         -25  I 

of  the  State,  the  Hon.  William  H.  Sewarcl,  on  the  Union  side,  and 
Stephens,  Hunter  and  Campbell,  representing  the  Confederacy,  said. 
!  quote  him  verbatim : 

"After  the  formal  interview  at  that  famous  Hampton  Roads  con 
ference,  .Mr.  Lincoln,  the  friend,  still  the  old  Whig  colleague,  though 
one  was  now  President  of  the  United  States,  and  the  other  Vice- 
President  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,  took  the  slim,  pale-faced, 
consumptive  little  man,  Stephens,  aside,  and,  placing  his  arm  over 
his  shoulder,  pointed  to  a  sheet  of  paper  he  held  in  his  other  hand, 
and  said:  '  Stephens,  write  Union  at  the  top  of  that  page,  and  you 
mav  write  below  it  whatever  you  please.'  '' 

In  the  preceding  conversation,  Air.  Lincoln  had  intimated  that 
pavment  for  the  slaves  was  not  outside  of  a  possible  agreement  for 
reunion  and  peace.  He  based  that  statement  upon  a  proposal  he 
had  already  in  hand,  to  appropriate  $400,000,000  to  this  purpose. 
I  am  not  going  to  tell  any  tales  out  of  school.  I  am  not  here  for 
controversy;' but,  when  we  are  dead  and  gone,  the  private  memora 
bilia  of  those  who  knew  what  terms  were  really  offered  the  Con- 
federacv,  within  ninetv  days  of  its  total  collapse,  will  show  that  in 
the  individual  judgment  of  all  of  them  the  wisdom  of  the  situation 
said,  "  accept! " 

According  to  this  showing  two  years  after  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation,  and  just  ninetv  days  before  the  absolute  collapse  of 
the  Confederacy,  Mr.  Lincoln  regarded  his  proclamation  only  in 
the  light  of  a  patriotic  recruiting  device  warranted  by  the  Constitu 
tion  upon  military  necessity. 

I  want  vou,  mv  countrymen,  to  survive,  to  outlive  the  odious 
color  line  in  politics,  in  cvervthing.  1  want  myself  to  forget,  and 
would  if  I  could,  that  slaver}'  ever  existed  in  this  beautiful  land;  that 
mv  people  were  the  subjects  of  that  condition.  L  want  to  forget 
that  there  ever  was  a  civil  war  or  any  unpleasantness  existing 
between  the  two  geographical  sections  divided  by  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line,  in  which  the  matter  of  slaver}-  was  involved. 

Were  it  not  a  fact  that  some  of  the  best  blood  of  the  truest,  bravest 
and  most  lovable  young  Americans  were  shed  on  both  sides,  and 
many  precious  lives  sacrificed  in  the  prosecution  of  a  cause  which 
both  thought  to  be  right  and  just,  I  would,  if  it  were  possible, 
blot  from  the  pages  of  American  History  that  period  dating  from 
1861  to  1865,  inclusive,  and  only  remember  that  we  are  a  nation  of 
free  American  citizens,  one  and  inseparable,  now  and  forever. 

This  is  mv  contribution  to  the  history  of  slaver}-,  the  rebellion 
and  freedom;  my  humble  contribution  to  the  greatness  of  honest 
A I  >raham  I  .in  coin. 


252         AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF    DR.     WILLIAM     ITEXRY    JOHNSON. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

DR.  JOHNSON'S  MASONIC  RECORD  ITEMIZED. 

Initiated  and  entered  apprentice  and  passed  to  the  degree  of 
Fellow  Craft  October  13,  1862. 

Raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of  Master  Mason  November  27, 
1862,  in  Jepthah  Lodge  No.  13,  Albany,  X.  Y. 

Elected  S.  W.,  January  3,  1863. 

Elected  W.  M.,  January,  1864-1866-1878. 

Appointed  D.  D.  G.  M.  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  1878. 

Elected  G.  J.  W.,  1879. 

Elected  D/G.  M.,  1880. 

Elected  Grand  Master,  1882. 

The  above  covers  Dr.  Johnson's  record  in  the  Blue  Lodge,  and  is 
one  of  which  he  is  justly  proud.  The  Blue  Lodge,  however,  did  not 
fully  satisfy  his  craving  for  knowledge,  nor  his  ambition  to  go  to  the 
limit  of  whatever  work  he  might  engage  himself  in,  hence  the  fol 
lowing  cop\'  of  a  carefully  preserved  and  authentic  document  will  be 
read  with  all  the  particular  interest  which  such  a  paper  is  entitled 
to.  It  is  the  diplomat  of  an  A.  &  A.  Scottish  Rites,  and  is  the 
highest  honor  within  the  gift  of  any  Masonic  body. 

U.  T.  O.  A.  P.  P>.  J. 
ORDO. —  A.   B. — -  CIIAO. 

The  Supreme  Council  of  Sov.  Grand  Inspectors  General  of  the 
Thirty-third  and  Last  Degree,  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  of 
Free  Masonry  for  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  Territories 
and  Dependencies  thereof. 

Sitting  at  their  Grand  East  in  the  Valley  of  Xew  York,  near  the 
1).  I).,  under  the  C.  C.  of  the  zenith  answering  to  40  degrees  45 
minutes  40  seconds  X.  L.,  2  degrees  o  minutes  51  seconds  E.  L., 
in  a  place  where  the  great  treasure  is  deposited  and  the  true  light 
is  visible. 

To  AH  Ineffable  Sublime  Masons  and  Illustrious  Knights  and  Princes 
of  Every  Degree  of  the  Ancient,  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  on  the  Face 
of  the  Globe: 

UNION,  TOLERATION,  CONTINUANCE. 
Know  ye,  that  by  the  powers  vested   in   us,  we  have  initiated. 

admitted,    constituted    and    proclaimed    our    illustrious     Brother, 


Al'TOfJlOGRAIMlV     OF     DK.     WILLfAM     I1KNRY     JOHNSON.          253 

William  H.  Johnson,  into  "the  several"  degrees  of  Secret  Master, 
Perfect  Master,  Intimate  Secretary,  Provost  and  Judge  Intendant 
of  the  Building,  Elect  of  Nine,  Elect  of  Fifteen.  Sublime  Knight 
Fleet,  Grand  Master  Architect,  Knight  of  the  Royal  Arch  and 
( irand  Elect,  Perfect  and  Sublime  Mason,  and  do  further  certify  him 
to  be  a  Knight  of  the  East  and  Prince  of  Jerusalem,  also  a  Knight 
of  the  Fast  and  West  and  Sovereign  Prince  Rose  Croix  de-H.- 
l).-.\l.,  (irand  Pontiff,  (irand  Master  of  All.  Symbolic  Lodges, 
Patriarch  Xoahchite,  Prince  of  Libanus,  Chief  of  the  Tabernacles. 
Prince  of  the  Tabernacle,  Prince  of  Mercy,  Knight  of  the  Brazen 
Serpent.  Commander  of  the  Temple,  Knight  Adept  of  the  Sun, 
(irand  Scottish  Knight  of  St.  Andrew,  (irand  Fleet  Knight  of 
Kadosh.  Inquisitory  'Commander,  Sublime  Prince  of  the  Royal 
Secret,  and  in  further  testimony  of  our  regard,  have  invested  him 
with  the  secrets  and  elevated  him  to  the  rank  and  dignity  of  a 
Sovereign  (irand  Inspector  General  of  the  Thirty-third  and  Last 
Degree,  clothed  with  the  authority,  power  and  prerogatives 
appertaining  thereunto  agreeable  to  the  Grand  Constitutions,  and 
elected  him  an  Honorary  Member  of  our  Supreme  Council  afore- 
>aid.  and  we  hereby  enjoin  upon  all  Masons  under  our  obedience, 
and  fraternally  request  of  all  other  Illustrious  Princes,  Valiant 
Knights  and  Sublime  Free  Masons  to  receive  and  acknowledge  our 
said  brother  in  that  High  Degree  so  long  as  he  shall  conform  and 
be  faithful  to  the  Constitutions,  Institutes.  Statutes,  Regulations 
and  Laws  of  the  Order  and  of  this  Council,  and  we  promise  to  fully 
reciprocate  all  and  any  attention  shown  him  whenever  requested 
of  us.  accompanied  with  lawful  letters  patent,  and  of  credence  like 
unto  these  which  we  have  granted  him  by  the  hand  of  our  Grand 
Dignitaries,  Officers  and  Members  and  verified  by  our  Great  Seal 
at  our  Grand  Fast  in  the  city  of  New  York.  State  of  Xew  York,  on 
the  loth  day  of  the  Masonic  month  Ye  Adar.  which  corresponds  to 
the  19th  day  of  March.  A.  D.  1883. 

Dens  Mcnniqne  Ins. 

Sealed  and  signed  by  Dr.  Peter  W.  Ray.  33d.  M.  P.  Sov. 
Gr.  C.:  W.  Miller  Dutton,  33d.  M.  111.  L.  Gr.  C;  William  A. 
Mars.  33d,  111.  T.  G.  of  the  Holy  Empire;  Samuel  R.  Scott- 
ron,  33d,  111.  S.  G.  of  the  Holy  Empire;  Peter  J.  Jewell,  33(1. 
111.  Mas.  of  Cer.;  R.  P.  Jauilem.  33d,  111.  Min.  of  State;  John 
Peterson,  33d,  K.  of  Arc. 


254         AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF    DR.     WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON. 

THE  M.  W.  GRAND  LODGE  OF  THE  MOST  ANCTENT  AND  HONOR 
ABLE  FRATERNITY  OF  FREE  AND  ACCEPTED  MASONS  OF  THE 
STATE  OF  XFAV  YORK. 

(  )FFICE  OF  THE  GRAND  MASTER, 
27  MAIDEX  LAM-:. 

AIYMANY,  June  27,  188.2. 

l>K\jA.\j  IN  FLAGLER,  Fso.,  (Jrand  Master  of  the  (/.  /..  of  flic  Stale  of 
AY'Zi'  York: 

M.  YY.  SIR. —  You  doubtlessly  are  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  there 
exists,  and  has  existed  for  many  years  in  this  State,  a  respectable 
organization  of  men  of  African  descent,  with  a  membership  of 
eighteen  hundred  to  two  thousand.  They  claim  to  be  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  having  subordinate  lodges  —  fort}-  or  more  in 
number  —  located  in  different  parts  of  this  State,  and  a  Grand 
Lodge,  holding  annual  and  semi-annual  communications  in  the  city 
of  Xew  York. 

This  Brotherhood  is  known  as  the  Most  Ancient  and  Most 
Honorable  Fraternity  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  the  State 
of  Xew  York,  and  is  plumb  level  and  square.  The  only  disad 
vantage  to  which  we  are  subjected  at  this  time  is  the  want  of  union 
and  fraternal  intercourse  with  the  great  Masonic  brotherhood  of 
which  you  have  the  honor  to  be  M.  \Y.  G.  M..  and  which  is  our 
senior. 

Most  Worshipful  Sir. —  As  the  acknowledged  representative  of 
the  G.  L.  of  F.  and  A.  M.  (colored,  of  this  State),  I  have  the  honor 
in  their  name  and  on  their  behalf,  to  appeal  to  vou,  and  through 
you  to  the  G.  L.  of  V.  and  A.  M.  of  the  State  of  Xew  York,  to 
accord  to  us  that  fraternal  recognition  due  from  one  brotherhood 
to  another  of  a  kindred  nature. 

I,  therefore,  respectfully  suggest  that  you  name  some  brother  as 
your  representative  in  or  near  our  Grand  Lodge,  and  accept  the 
credentials  of  one  that  1  may  appoint  to  represent  us  in  your  Grand 
Lodge.  I  have  to  suggest  that  this  course  be  adopted  as  the  pre 
liminary  step  looking  to  a  close  union  and  extended  fraternal 
relations  between  the  two  most  worshipful  grand  lodges. 

I  anticipate,  most  worshipful  sir,  your  inquiry  touching  our 
origin  and  the  grounds  upon  which  we  assume  to  maintain  our 
Masonic  character;  permit  me  to  offer  the  following  as  my  answer: 

Consulting  the  ancient  record  of  the  mother  Grand  Lodge  of 
Massachusetts,  I  find  in  the  year  1/75.  and  between  the  months 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     <>!•"     Dk.     WILLIAM     HEXkV 

of  March  and  December,  the  following-named  men  were  entered, 
passed  and  raised  in  an  English  army  lodge,  then  stationed  in  or 
near  the  city  of  Boston:  \Y.  M.  Robert  Bait,  Prince  Hall,  Cyrus 
Julius,  Bueston  Singer,  Thomas  Sanderson.  Prince  Tyclon,  Cato 
Spain,  Boston  Smith,  Peter  Best,  John  Canton,  Prince  Reem,  Peter 
Freeman,  Benjamin  Teber,  Duff  Buform,  Fortune  Howard  and 
Richard  Telby,  sixteen  in  all,  and  they  were  the  first  colored  Masons 
ever  made  in  this  country.  Xine  years  afterwards,  in  1/84,  and 
immediately  after  the  announcement  of  peace,  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Fngland  confirmed  the  Masonic  work  inaugurated  by  Worshipful 
Master  Bait,  in  17/5.  by  its  warrant  of  constitution  to  Prince  Hall 
and  other  colored  Masons  in  the  city  of  Boston.  That  grant  has 
never  been  evoked  bv  the  grantor,  neither  has  its  fair  escutcheon 
been  tarnished  by  a  single  unmasonic  act  committed  by  any  colored 
Mason  in  the  L'nited  States. 

The  warrant  emanating  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Great  Britain, 
conferring1  Masonic  privileges  upon  colored  men  in  the  L'nited 
States,  furnishes  the  necessan  link  in  the  chain  of  evidence  which 
establishes  onr  claim  to  legitimacy,  and  it  is  of  so  much  importance 
that  I.  have  taken  the  pains  to  obtain  a  verbatim  copy,  which  I  sub 
mit  for  your  inspection: 

A  Grand  Master,  to  all  and  every  our  right  worshipful  brethren: 
\Ye,  Thomas  Howard.  Farl  of  Fffingham,  Lord  Howard,  etc.,  etc.. 
acting  Grand  Master  under  the  authority  of  His  Royal  Highness, 
Henry  Frederick,  Duke  of  Cumberland,  etc..  Grand  A  Faster  of  the 
Most  Ancient  and  Honorable  Society  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  send  greeting: 

Know  ye,  that  we.  at  the  humble  petition  of  our  right  trusty  and 
well-beloved  brethren,  Prince  Hall,  Boston  Smith,  Thomas  Sander 
son  and  several  other  brethren  residing  in  Boston.  Xew  England, 
in  North  America,  do  hereby  constitute  the  said  brethren  into  a 
regular  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  under  the  title  and 
denomination  of  the  African  Lodge  No.  459,  to  be  opened  in  Boston 
aforesaid,  and  do  further,  at  their  said  petition,  hereby  appoint  the 
said  Prince  Hall  to  be  master:  Boston  Smith,  senior  warden,  and 
Thomas  Sanderson,  junior  warden,  for  opening  the  said  lodges, 
and  for  such  further  time  only  as  shall  be  thought  proper  by  the 
brethren  thereof,  it  being  our  will  that  this,  our  appointment  of  the 
above  officers  of  the  lodge,  but  that  such  election  shall  be  regulated 
agreeably  to  such  laws  of  the  said  lodge  as  shall  be  consistent 
with  the  general  laws  of  the  society,  contained  in  the  book  of  con 
stitutions,  and  we  hereby  will,  and  require  you,  the  said  Prince  Hall, 


256         Al'TOlMOGR. \PIIY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IfKXKY     J()IIXS<)X. 

lo  take  especial  care  that  all,  and  every  the  said  brethren  are,  or 
have  been,  regularly  made  Masons,  and  that  they  do  observe,  per 
form  and  keep  all  the  rules  and  orders  contained  in  the  book  of 
constitutions;  and  further,  that  you  do,  from  time  to  time,  cause 
to  be  entered  in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose,  an  account  of  your 
proceedings  in  the  lodge,  together  with  all  such  rules,  orders  and 
regulations  as  shall  be  made  for  the  good  government  of  the  same; 
that  in  no  wise  you  omit  once  in  every  year  to  send  to  us,  or  our 
successors,  Grand  Master,  or  to  .Rowland  1.  Holt.  Fsq.,  our  Deputy 
Grand  Master  for  the  time  being,  an  account  in  writing  of  your 
said  proceedings,  and  copies  of  all  such  rules,  orders  and  regula 
tions  as  shall  be  made  as  aforesaid,  together  with  a  list  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  lodge,  and  such  a  sum  of  money  as  may  suit  the  circum 
stances  of  the  lodge,  and  reasonably  be  expected  toward  the  grand 
charity.  Moreover,  we  will  and  require  you.  the  said  Prince  Hall, 
as  soon  as  conveniently  mav  be,  to  send  an  account  in  writing  of 
what  may  be  done  b\  virtue  of  these  presents. 

Given  at  London,  under  our  hand  and  seal  of  Masonrv,  this  2o,th 
day  of  September,  Grand  Lodge  5784.  A.  I).  1784. 

By    the    Grand    Master's    command. 

R.  HOLT,  D.  G.  M. 

Attested:  WILLIAM   WHITK,  (i.  S. 

Seal   of  the   Grand   Lodge   attached. 

The  original  warrant  is  to-day  among  the  archives  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Massachusetts,  where  it  has  been  seen  by  thousands,  who 
acknowledged  it  to  be  genuine  from  the  antiquity  of  the  parchment, 
as  well  as  the  unmistakable  seal  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Great 
Britain.  We  also  find  upon  the  records  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Great  Britain,  that  George  Washington,  ihe  Father  of  Our  Country, 
President  of  the  United  States,  the  first  M.  \Y.  G.  M.  of  the  first- 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  was  also  entered,  passed 
and  raised  in  an  English  army  lodge  in  the  year  of  light,  5752. 

This  is  my  presentation  of  the  origin  of  colored  Masons  in  this 
country;  our  origin  is  coeval  with  that  of  the  Father  of  Our  Coun 
try;  we  were  made  in  the  same  manner  and  under  the  same  author 
ity,  viz.,  that  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Great  Britain. 

The  first  African  lodge,  Xo.  456,  dispensated  and  warranted  other 
lodges,  established  the  Grand  Lodge  in  the  first  three  met  in  con- 
vention  and  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  from  that  mother  Grand 
Lodge  we  to-day  date  back  our  authority  and  the  legality  as  well  as 
the  formality  of  our  present  existence. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM      IIKXRY 

Most  Worshipful  Sir.— Permit  me  once  more  to  anticipate  a 
possible  objection  to  our  recognition,  based  upon  the  assumption 
that  it  is  unmasonic  for  two  or  more  Grand  Lodges  to  exist  in  the 
same  State  or  territorial  limits  at  one  and  the  same  time.  I  frankly 
acknowledge  that  such  a  state  of  affairs  is  undesirable,  still  the  fact 
exists.  It  certainly  is  no  fault  of  ours  for,  bear  in  mind,  that  our 
origin  ante-dates  the  exclusive  jurisdiction  dogma,  and  we  stand 
read}'  now,  as  we  have  stood  for  many  years  passed,  to  obliterate 
anv  and  all  separate  and  distinctive  features  which  we  may  possess 
and  to  join  with  you  in  cementing  the  bond  of  a  complete  and  per 
fect  fraternization  under  one  Grand  Lodge  in  keeping  with  the  spirit 
of  Masonry,  which  encourages  no  contentions  or  strife  save  that 
noble  contention  or  emulation  as  to  who  shall  best  work  and  agree. 
1  am  not  quite  willing  to  admit  that  the  assumption  of  an  exclusive 
territorial  jurisdiction  is  essentially  Masonic — I  cannot  do  so  in 
view  of  the  uncontroverted  fact  that  for  many  years  two  Grand 
Lodges  existed  in  this  State  at  the  same  time  —  composed  exclu 
sivelv  of  white  men,  and  were  finally  consolidated.  In  ( ireat 
Britain,  for  manv  years,  two  Grand  Lodges  existed  —  one  at  York 
and  the  other  at  London.  Preston  states  that  for  a  series  of  years 
the  most  perfect  harmony  existed  between  the  two  —  Grand  Lodges 
and  private  lodges  flourished  in  both  parts  of  the  kingdom  under 
their  separate  jurisdictions. 

In  Germany  there  were  eight  Grand  Lodges,  three  of  which  were 
located  in  the  citv  of  I'erlin,  viz..  the  Roval  Mother  Grand  Lodge 
of  the  Three  Globes,  founded  in  1/40,  having  ninety-nine  subordi 
nate1  lodges;  the  Royal  York  in  Friendship,  founded  in  1733.  with 
twenty-seven  lodges  under  its  jurisdiction,  and  the  National  Grand 
Lodge  of  Germany,  founded  in  1798,  with  twentv-seven  operative 
lodges.  (  )n  the  uth  of  April.  iSoo,,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Lngland 
resolved  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  continue  in  force  the  measure 
resorted  to  in  or  about  the  year  1703.  respecting  irregular  masons. 
The  union  did  not  take  place  until  the  J/th  of  December,  1813.  four 
vears  and  eight  months  afterward.  Yet  we  find  that  the  members 
of  both  Grand  Lodges  began  to  fraternize  "  as  on  the  2  i  st  of  July. 
icSio,"  says  Brother  llughan,  "  the  Karl  of  Moira.  the  Grand  Master 
of  Kngland,  invited  the  Atho  brethren  on  Ancients  to  dine  with 
him  at  Freemasons'  Hall,  which  offer  was  accepted." 

lint,  suppose  we, admit,  Most  Worshipful  Sir,  that  this  state  of 
affairs  no  longer  exists,  and  that  the  doctrine  of  an  exclusive  juris 
diction  is  true,  substantial  and  holds  good  against  all  comers,  then, 
1  ask.  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  good  and  true  in  Masonry,  is  it  fair, 

17 


2  $8         ArTOI'.irXiRAI'HY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IIEXRY 

is  it  just,  is  it  in  keeping  with  that  spirit  of  Masonic  charity  which  is 
supposed  to  reach  from  the  center  of  the  eartli  to  the  heavens  and 
extend  from  east  to  west,  from  north  to  south,  embracing  within  its 
folds  the  people  of  every  clime  and  every  tongue,  for  your  grand 
body,  with  its  superior  numerical  strength,  its  immense  wealth,  its 
boundless  intellect,  its  ripe  culture  and  Masonic  renown,  to  exclude 
from  Masonic  fellowship  two  thousand  master  Masons  because 
nature  has  clothed  them  with  a  skin  of  a  darker  hue  than  yours? 
I  cannot  believe  that  you  so  regard  it,  and  I  hope  —  hope,  because  1 
know  that  flod  lives  and  reigns;  that  his  everlasting  and  immutable 
laws  of  right  and  justice  must  and  will  sooner  or  later  prevail;  that 
complete  justice  must  be  done  us,  and  that  we  shall  be  lifted  out  of 
the  complexional  rut  of  prejudice  into  the  light  of  a  perfect  Masonic 
day. 

Trusting,  most  worshipful  sir.  that  you  will  pardon  the  length  ol 
this  friendlv  communication,  and  give  it  vour  early  and  thoughtful 
attention,  1  have  the  honor  to  sign  myself. 

Yours  fraternally. 

\YM.   H.  JOHXSOX. 

(Jrand  Master. 


The  following  letter  is  from  the  pen  of  one  of  the  ablest  and  best- 
known  newspaper  men  in  this  or  any  other  country: 

rROVIDEXCK    JorUXAL. 

(Xevv   York   Xotes  —  A  Distinguished  Colored  Mason.) 

XKW  YORK.  Jai\nar\  15,   1887. 

I  was  shaved  the  other  day  by  one  of  the  most  remarkable  colored 
men  in  America.  It  is  my  luck  to  run  across  remarkable  individuals 
in  barber  shops.  This  man's  name  is  W.  11.  Johnson,  and  he  prac 
tices  his  gentle  profession  in  Albany.  He  pointed  to  a  nondescript 
looking  chart  on  the  wall  and  said  "  that  illustrates  the  Scottish 
Rite  lie  of  Masonry.  I  have  invited  a  number  of  white  Masons  here 
to  challenge  them  to  work  it  with  me  or  to  correct  me  in  inv 
working  of  it,  but  they  have  declined,  mainly  because  they  sav  they 
are  not  allowed  to  expose  their  work  to  a  colored  man.  We  colored 
men  have  Masonic  lodges  in  every  State  of  the  Union.  We  got 
our  first  charter  in  1781  from  his  lordship,  the  then  Earl  of  Efrmg- 
ham.  Grand  Master  in  Great  Britain.  We  have  kept  it  locked  up 
in  an  iron  safe  ever  since.  1  am  a  thirty-third  degree  Mason  and 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     Dk.     WILLIAM     liKXRV    JOHNSOX.         259 

when,  in  1883,  1  was  elected  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  State,  1  challenged  the  white  Grand  Master,  Mr.  Flagler,  to 
show  why  we  colored  Masons  were  not  the  equal  of  the  white  men, 
and  why  we  did  not  possess  Masonry  as  authentic  as  theirs.  1  sent 
the  challenge  by  registered  letter  and  hold  his  receipt  for  it,  but 
he  made  me  no  reply. 

"  We  hear  so  much  of  equality  and  we  claim  a  majority  of  Repub 
licans  in  this  country,"  Air.  Johnson  continued,  as  he  ceased  rub 
bing  my  chin  and  wiped  the  lather  from  his  lingers,  "  but  in  only 
one  conspicuous  organization,  civil,  military  or  religious,  in  this 
country  is  the  colored  man  on  a  par  with  his  white  brother.  That 
cxcepton  is  the  noble  order  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  1  belong- 
to  that.  In  my  local  assembly,  Xo.  7845,  consisting  of  seven  colored 
men  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  whites,  1  have  been  elected  to 
the  chief  office,  that  of  Master  Workman.  Ueing  sent  as  a  delegate 
lo  the  District  Assembly,  which  has  one  hundred  and  sixty  mem 
bers,  and  not  one  other  colored  man.  I  have  been  elected  Worthy 
Foreman,  a  position  second  to  that  of  District  Master  Workman. 
We  are  trying  to  put  up  a  building  for  our  order  in  Albany  that  is 
to  cost  $40,000,  and  I  have  been  elected  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  having  that  work  in  charge." 

Mr.  Johnson  submitted  to  a  cross-examination  which  revealed 
further  facts  in  his  honorable  and  distinguished  life.  He  had  been 
janitor  of  the  Senate  and  was  the  first  man  of  his  race  to  hold  such 
a  position.  He  had  been  janitor  of  the  High  Court  of  Impeach 
ment  in  the  notorious  Barnard  case.  He  had  stumped  several  States 
for  Republican  presidential  candidates,  and  had  refused  pay  for  so 
doing,  though  obliged  to  neglect  his  business  for  months.  "  I  told 
the  part\\"  said  he,  "that  my  race  was  not  in  a  position  to  con- 
iribtitc  money  towards  its  support,  therefore  1  would  draw  none 
from  it."  He  was  the  author  of  the  Civil  Rights  Hill,  now  a  law 
of  the  State.  He  never  went  to  school,  l.orn  in  Alexandria  of  free 
parents,  in  1833,  he  was  not  allowed  to  go  to  school  there,  but  was 
sent  in  his  youth  to  Philadelphia,  to  learn  the  drug  business,  and  to 
educate  himself.  He  became  enamored  with  the  barbering  business, 
and  at  once  adopted  it.  In  various  shops  he  learned  to  read  and 
write,  and  pursued  his  further  studies.  "  I  found  that  I  had  to  learn 
to  write  when  I  got  my  first  sweetheart,"  he  said;  "  but  after  1  wrote 
my  first  letter  to  her  I  knew  she  could  not  read  it,  so  1  took  it 
myself  and  read  it  to  her."  Xow,  ye  prejudiced  Masons,  and  all 
ye  others  who  esteem  true  merit  and  hard  won  victories  in  life's 
great  battle,  learn  from  W.  TT.  Johnson,  the  Albany  barber,  how 


260          Al'Tol'.KHlkANl  Y     <>F     DR.     WILLIAM.     HKN'KY     JOHXSoX. 

nuicli  even  a  poor  and  ignorant  colored  boy  can  do  if  he  aspires 
to  raise  himself,  and  never  flags  in  his  efforts,  and  ask  vourselves 
with  your  opportunities,  many  of  you,  even  of  the  most  successful 
among  you,  have  succeeded  in  anything  like  the  degree  he  has,  all 
things  considered. 

ll'LIAX   RALPH. 


Tin-:   Friio. 

I"  TIC  A,  X.  Y..  September  18,  jK8o. 
(Masonic  Communications.) 

Masonry  and  the  Reformed  Church. 

The  seventy-fourth  annual  meeting  of  the  ( Jeneral  Synod  of  the 
Reformed  Church  in  America  has  devoted  much  of  its  time  to  the 
discussion  of  the  memorials  of  the  western  classes,  praving  to  he 
released  from  what  they  denominate  a  growing  sin,  "from  Masonry 
in  the  church."  In  short,  that  their  thin-skinned  Christian 
brothers  out  west  demand  the  exclusion  from  the  church  and  from 
the  communion  table  of  Free  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  members 
of  other  oath-bound  associations.  They  do  not  admit  Free  Masons 
to  membership  in  these  churches  west,  and  they  ask  the  church 
east  to  do  likewise;  but  the  General  Synod,  in  its  action  just  had. 
said  no.  Jt  said,  in  substance,  your  western  brothers  are  at  liberty 
to  do  as  you  like  in  this  matter,  and  we  at  the  east  will  do  as  we 
feel  it  becomes  the  followers  of  the  IJlessed  Saviour  to  do,  and  that 
is  to  let  the  question  of  Freemasonry  alone,  and  to  attend  to  the 
upbuilding  of  the  Christian  church,  and  the  ingathering  of  souls 
redeemed  to  the  fold  of  Christ. 

The  synod  has  acted  wisely.  Masonry  has  nothing  to  do  with 
the  Christian  church.  The  Christian  church  has  nothing  to  do 
with  Masonry.  Moth  have  their  separate  missions  to  perform. 
Masonry  is  a  moral  and  a  scientific  association,  and  requires  no 
religious  tests  save  a  belief  in  God  and  his  revealed  will.  Founded 
in  a  belief  in  the  existence  of  God.  the  Great  Jehovah,  the  Supreme 
Architect  and  Ruler  of  the  l.'niverse:  a  firm  and  unwavering  faith 
in  Mis  goodness  and  mercy,  united  with  the  belief  in  the  revelation 
which  he  has  made  to  man  as  contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
together  with  an  unshaken  faith  in  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection 
of  the  body  and  the  immortality  of  the  soul.  It  leaves  intact  the 
right  of -private  judgment  and  public  profession,  thus  bringing  all 
men  of  all  creeds,  without  attempting  to  control  any,  upon  one  com- 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY     JOHXSOX.          26 1 

nion  platform  of  reliance  upon  the  goodness  of  God  and  Mis  divine 
nature.  In  Masonry,  as  in  the  church,  an  "atheist"  is  a  monster 
for  whom  there  can  be  found  no  name  or  abiding  place.  Free 
masonry  is  a  moral  and  scientific  institution,  subjecting  and  illus 
trating  the  important  truths  pertaining  to  our  doctrines  upon  the 
broad  standard  of  morality,  not  religion.  Masonry  leaves  religion 
and  stricth  religious  matters  of  worship  to  the  church  of  Christ. 
Still  it  endeavored  to  and  does  support  the  advancing  interest  of 
the  church  by  its  standard  of  morality.  In  all  matters  pertaining  to 
church  and  State  Masonry  stands  entirely  aloof,  expending  its 
genius  onlv  upon  man's  moral  and  social  life,  leaving  the  church  to 
care  for  his  spiritual  and  Christian  well-being;  whilst  Freemasonry 
embraces  the  idea  of  a  universal  liberty,  a  universal  equality  and  a 
universal  fraternity,  it  at  the  same  time  guards  those  greatest  of 
blessings,  and  by  an  ordination  only  known  to  the  craft  prevents 
them  from  degenerating  into  licentiousness,  anarchy  and  infidelity; 
and  by  the  application  of  these  and  kindred  principles,  upon  which 
the  order  is  founded,  reduces  the  human  character  in  life  to  sym 
metry  and  beautv.  Such  is  Freemasonry:  such  is  its  teachings. 
Masonrv  deals  with  the  moral  and  loving  nature  of  man.  It 
teaches  him  how  best  to  be  a  good  citizen,  a  good  husband,  a  good 
father,  brother,  son.  and  a  true  and  trust}-  friend.  It  teaches  him 
how  to  live  and  love  and  bear  life's  burdens  lightly.  It  teaches 
him  how  to  live  for  others  that  they  might  live  in  turn  for  him;  but 
it  leaves  to  the  church  the  duty  of  teaching  men  how  to  die,  so  as  to 
live  again  and  live  eternally.  Faith  in  (iod.  hope  in  immortality  and 
charitv  to  all  mankind  are  the  triangular  foundation  stones  in  Free 
masonry.  Still  the  Christian's  hope  can  only  be  realized  through 
well-founded  faith  in  (iod.  the  Father,  the  Son.  and  the  Holy  (ihost. 
To  believe  in  (iod  only  will  not  suffice  to  save  a  human  soul.  Xo; 
we  must  believe  in  the  Trinity  to  be  saved,  if  saved  at  all.  through 
(  )ur  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ. 

Thus,  as  a  man.  a  Mason  and  a  Christian, 

"  I  would  live 

Till  life's  dull  years  are  past; 
Then  live  forever." 

WM.  H.  JOHXSOX. 
Albanv.  Xew  York. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IIKN'RV     (OI1XSOX. 

M.  \\'.  GRAXD  LoD.ii-:  OF  F.  AXD  A.  M., 

\K\\     YoKK.    M(l\    5,    I  <)()(). 

\V.\i.  II.  JOHNSON,  I*.  ( i.  M.: 

DKAR  SIR  AXD  BROTHER. —  The  Grand  Master,  M.  \\'.  Br<>. 
E.  V.  C.  Kato,  desires  that  if  health  will  permit,  that  von  be  present 
at  the  presentation  of  a  banner  to  the  (irand  Lodge,  on  Thnrsdav 
evening.  June  seventh,  at  Zion  clmrch.  \\'e  are  arranging  a  pro- 
gram  to  occupy  about  an  hour  and  he  desires  that  in  conjunction 
with  Past  (irand  Masters  Irving.  Spanlding  and  Curtis,  that  you 
give  a  short  address  of  ten  minutes.  Trusting  that  von  will  be  able 
to  be  present  at  both  the  annual  session  and  presentation.  I  beg 
to  remain. 

Yours  fraternally, 

BKXJAMIX   MYERS. 

Grand  Secretary. 


27  MAIDEN  LAXIC. 
ALHAXY,  X.  Y.,  June  3,  1900. 

RKIHT  WORSHIPFUL  BROTHKR  BLXJAMIX  MYKRS,  Grand  Secretary: 

DKAK  SIR.—  I  have  at  hand  your  kind  favor,  informing  me  that 
our  beloved  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  E.  V.  C.  Eato,  desires 
to  have  me  present  at  a  banner  presentation  to  the  M.  W.  (i.  L.,  in 
Zion  church,  in  your  city,  on  the  7th  inst.,  to  make  a  speeeh  in 
company  with  our  illustrious  Masonic  brothers,  Past  (irand  Masters 
Curtis.  Irving  and  Spaulding.  I  would  like  ever  so  much  to  comply 
with  his  wishes  and  be  with  mv  Masonic  brothers  on  that  occasion. 
It  would  afford  me  an  opportunity  to  express  again  my  unfaltering 
fealty  and  imperishable  love  for  the  craft,  that  years  ago  gave  me 
the  great  honor  to  elect  me  (irand  Master.  But  circumstances 
order  otherwise. 

I  have  just  completed  arrangements  to  go  to  Philadelphia  on  the 
17th  inst.,  to  attend  the  Republican  national  convention.  I  go 
from  here  by  boat  and  return  by  same  route.  My  health  needs  the 
sea  voyage.  The  trip  will  occupy  a  week  and  I  cannot  spare  more 
time  from  my  business  at  this  season  of  the  year. 

Please  inform  (irand  Master  Eato  that  I  deeply  regret  my  inability 
to  be  at  his  side  on  the  7th  inst.  more  than  himself,  you,  or  the  dear 
brothers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  can  possibly  appreciate. 

Please  accept  for  yourself,  dear  brother  Secretary,  and  convev  to 


K    K.  JRVlN(i,   KsV.. 

Albany,  N.  Y. 
Cir.-md  .Mar-trr  of  Masons,  Stjito  of  Nc\v  York. 


Sin  JOSEPH  E.  S.  WILLIAMS, 
Troy,  N.  V. 

Pant  Grand  Commander,  Knights*  Templars,  State  of  New  York. 


ETUELBEKT  KVANS. 

ast    Deputy  (;r;ni(i  Ma.<U-r  of  Masons,  Stair  of 
Xc\v  York. 


IIENKY  A.  SPENCEK. 
S.  G.  W.  0;rand  Lodjrc,  F.  and  A.  M..  Stato 
of  Nt-w  York. 


m 


Till:  .MASTEll  MASsU.N'S  DKUK 


HON.  JOHN  J.  SMITH. 

Of  Dorchester. 

l'u-i  (.iraml  Master  of  Masons,  State  of  Massa 
chusetts. 


Sin  JOHN  E.  JiEliliV. 

Of  Troy,  N.  Y. 

St.  Aiithouy's'G'oimnamlery  No.  8,  Knighu 
Templars. 


INEFFABLE. 


ArTOl'.KHiK. \IMIY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM      IIKXRV     JOHNSON.          267 

( irand  Master  Kato  and  the  brothers,  the  high  fraternal  regard  and 
profound  love  of 

Yours  truly, 

\YM.    II.  J(  )HXSOX. 

/-'.  G.  M. 


ALHANV.  X.  V.,  January  r.  i 
\\'.  H.  JOHXSOX,  Esg.,  I'.  M.  \Y.  G.  M.  I".  AND  A.  M.: 

DKAR  SIR  AND  BROTHER. —  At  a  regular  communication  of 
Jepthah  Lodge  \o.  13,  E.  and  A.  M.,  held  in  their  rooms,  Xo.  3 
Xorth  Pearl  street,  bv  a  unanimous  vote  you  were  placed  on  the 
Honorary  Roll  as  a  member  of  [epthah  Lodge  Xo.  13.  and  the 
secretary  was  instructed  to  notify  you  of  the  same. 

Fraternally  yours,  etc., 

C.  E.  LEWIS. 

Secretary. 

BOSTON,  November  26.   1888. 
\\'M.  H.  JOHXSOX,  Eso.: 

DKAR  SIR. —  I  have  not  been  out  of  doors  but  once  or  twice  since 
you  were  here,  so  that  your  note  reached  me  by  way  of  the  State 
house. 

I  should  only  be  too  glad  to  aid  you  in  your  endeavor.  \\'hat  I 
can  do,  1  know  not.  I  say  this  looking  at  the  fact  that  the  State 
of  Xew  York  will  have  more  influence  in  the  coming  selection  of 
officers  than  any  other  State  or  section. 

I  confidently  look  forward  to  the  day  when  vou  shall  receive 
your  appointment. 

I  remain  your  obedient  servant, 

LEWIS  HAYDEX, 

I\  G.  M .  of  Masons.  State  of  MassacJutsctts. 


MASON  i  r  COM  M  rx  i  CAT  i  oxs. 

ALP.AXY,  January  8,  1880. 
EDITOR  WKSTKRX  ECHO: 

At  the  last  communication  of  the  M.  \Y.  (i.  L.  of  the  M.  A.  and 
II.   E.  of  lr.  and  A.  M..  the  (.irand  Master  ruled  in  accordance  with 


268          AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     I)K.     WILLIAM      FIK.VKY     JOJIXSON. 

the  fundamental  principles  of  ancient  Freemasonry,  that  men  made 
Masons  in  this  jurisdiction  must  be  free  horn.  This  ruling,  of  the 
(I.  M.,  seems,  upon  its  face  and  upon  the  first  view,  to  exclude  from 
Masonry  all  good  and  true  men  of  African  descent,  who  were  unfor 
tunately  held  in  bondage  at  the  South,  before  events  growing  out  of 
the  great  civil  strife  released  them.  I  kit,  such  is  far  from  being  the 
case;  nothing  of  the  kind  is  meant.  The  M.  \V.  G.  M.  understands, 
as  we  do,  the  words  in  the  ritual,  viz.,  "  free  born,"  to  apply  in  a 
speculative  more  than  in  an  operative  sense,  and  means  the  freedom 
of  the  mind,  the  intellectuality,  the  born  spirit,  the  characteristic 
manhood  of  the  candidate,  and  not  the  mere  nominal  state  of  his 
physical  condition  over  which  he  evidently  had  no  control,  when 
his  ancestors,  free  men  in  Africa,  were  stolen  and  brought  to 
America  and  subjected  under  their  manly  protest  to  slavery.  You 
may  enslave  the  body  by  superior  force,  still  the  man  and  his  innate 
manhood  mav  assert  itself  one  physically  a  slave,  may  and  often 
is  an  intellectual  free  man. 

\\hat  is  meant  and  intended  by  the  decision  of  the  M.  \\  . 
G.  M.  is  that  the  previous  condition  of  servitude  suffered  under 
manly  protest,  without  color  of  law  to  sanction  and  legalize  the 
outrage,  shall  not  be  allowed  to  act  as  a  bar  to  the  admission  of 
candidates  whose  moral  characters  are  sound,  and  whose  intellect 
is  free  and  unbounded.  It  means  that  as  good  and  true  men  are 
God's  created  free  men,  all  such  are  justly  to  be  regarded  as  fit  and 
proper  material  to  be  used  in  the  construction  of  our  speculative 
Masonic  Temple,  whose  pillars  are  Brotherly  Love,  Relief  and 
Truth. 

AVAL  H.    [OHXSOX. 


Tin:  XHW  YORK  AC.K. 

(Xew  York,  Saturday,  Januarv   12,   i88(). ) 

M  ASOXIC  KXDOKSLM  KXT 

Of  Coniinittccman  Jolinson's  Candidacy  for  the  Recorders/lip  —  .- 

Annals. 

(Regular  Correspondence  of  The  Age.) 

Albany,  Jan.  8. —  Hon.  \Yilliam  II.  Johnson  has  received  the 
following  letter,  among  other  strong  ones,  endorsing  him  for  the 
position  of  Recorder  of  Deeds  for  the  District  of  Columbia: 


Al'TOKHHlkAI'HY    OF    DR.    WILLIAM    IIFNRY    JOHNSON'.       269 

"OFFICF  OF  GRAND  MASTFR  OF  TMI-:  STATF  OF  XF\V  YORK. 
ALBANY,  December  20,   1888. 

\V.  II.  JOHNSON,  Eso.,  I*.  G.  M.: 

Ai.  \\*.  SIR  AND  HOXORFD  BROTHF.R. —  Among  the  many  things 
which  demonstrate  that  the  Masonic  fraternity  excels  all  others  in 
the  world,  is  the  pride  it  has  always  manifested  in  numbering  among 
its  members  men  who  achieved  distinction  and  eminence  in  all  the 
walks  of  life.  This  pride  is  greatly  enhanced,  when  honors  for 
meritorious  service,  for  pure  disinterested  effort  in  behalf  of  a 
worth v  cause,  for  the  display  of  abilities,  which  all  men  concede  to 
be  founded  in  the  highest  order  of  intelligence,  are  bestowed  upon 
one  who  has  graced  with  enduring  brilliancy  almost  every  station 
in  our  mvstic  circle.  Therefore,  sir.  upon  learning  of  your  candi 
dacy  for  the  office  of  Recorder  of  Deeds  for  the  District  of  Colum 
bia.  I  conceived  it  to  be  my  duty,  as  well  as  a  great  pleasure.  Jo 
acquaint  you  of  my  earnest  solicitude  in  your  behalf.  <'Uid  to  express 
my  unqualified  endorsement  of  your  efforts  to  obtain  that  posi 
tion.  Having  always  been  signally  consistent  in  your  advocacy 
of.  and  your  devotion  to.  every  measure  looking  to  the  advancement 
of  our  race.  I  am  sanguine  that  in  presenting  yourself  for  this 
or  any  other  position  within  the  gift  of  President  Harrison,  yon 
will  be  supported  b\  the  Xegro  race  not  only  in  this  State,  but 
of  the  nation,  with  such  cordiality  and  unanimity  that  should  you 
fail  in  obtaining  the  position  you  are  seeking,  you  will  at  least  feel 
rewarded  in  knowing  that  our  people  were  \\ith  you.  Assuring 
you  that  my  services  are  at  your  command  in  your  canvass  for  the 
high  office  which  you  so  justly  deserve,  and  wishing  you  success,  I 
am.  verr  truh'  and  fraternally  Yours. 


A  GRAXD  MASOXFC  GATHFRINC. 

Mount  Moriah  Lodge.  Xo.  25.  of  V.  A.  M.,  had  a  grand  celebra 
tion  on  the  seventeenth  inst..  at  Troy,  X.  Y.,  the  occasion  being  the 
grand  reception  given  by  the  lodge  to  M.  \\  .  Grand  Master  K.  \  .  ( '. 
Rato.  of  the  M.  \Y.  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Xew  York. 

The  lodge  room  was  appropriately  decorated  with  Mags,  banners 
and  floral  offerings.  The  Lodge  was  formally  opened  at  eight 
i'.  M..  bv  W.  M.  John  E.  Berrv. 


/O         AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WIUJ.Ul     IIKXRY    jOHXSoX. 

That  veteran  champion  of  his  race.  Past  Grand  Master  William 
H.  Johnson,  who  had  come  up  from  Albany,  was  unanimously 
elected  an  honorary  life  member,  and  was  therefore  appointed  by 
the  M.  W.  Master  of  Ceremonies.  While  business  was  being1  trans 
acted,  the  outer  door  was  alarmed  by  the  Tiler,  and  announcement 
was  made  by  the  J.  I),  that  the  M.  W.  ( irand  Master,  Bro.  Eato, 
P.  G.  M.  Irving,  D.  G.  M.  Evans,  G.  S.  Myers  and  I).  I).  G.  M. 
Williams  craved  admission.  Upon  the  order  of  the  W.  M..  the  Mas 
ter  of  Ceremonies,  with  his  aids,  who  were  P.  W.  M.'s,  conducted 
the  G.  M.  and  staff  to  the  dais,  and  were  then  received  by  the  W.  M. 
Wardens  and  brothers  with  grand  honors.  After  the  G.  M.  and 
G.  S.  had  inspected  the  Lodge,  the  Lodge  was  called  from  labor  to 
refreshments.  The  door  was  thrown  open.  The  invited  guests. 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  were  admitted.  A  beautiful  program  was 
performed,  of  singing,  recitations  and  music.  Refreshments  being 
partaken  of,  the  G.  M.  expressed  his  high  gratification  of  the  warm- 
ness  of  the  greeting  accorded.  He  was  especially  pleased  to  meet 
the  two  clergymen  of  the  city  in  the  lodge  room,  the  Revs.  Boddy 
and  Jackson. —  [The  Spectator,  Albany-Buffalo,  X.  Y..  April  K), 
1900. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     1)K.     WILLIAM     1IKXKY      InllXSOX. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

lU'SIXKSS    N'OTICK. 

|"ohn  (1.  Myers'  ])rincely  department  store  on  North  Pearl  street 
rivals  anything  of  its  kind  here  or  elsewhere.  \Ym.  AY.  Williams  & 
Son's  is  the  plaee  to  find  diamonds.  A.  B.  Van  (iaasbeek  carries  a 
first-class  stock  of  mattings,  oil  cloth,  rugs  and  carpets.  Airs.  Harriet 
Chapman,  136  South  Swan  street,  has  one  of  the  best  and  well- 
equipped  boarding-houses.  G.  H.  Mayer,  48  North  Pearl  street,  deals 
in  furniture  and  wall  paper  of  every  description.  Talmadge,  the 
Tailor.  42  Maiden  lane,  is  first-class  in  every  respect.  Marsh  &  Hoff 
man,  79  to  83  North  Pearl  street,  carries  a  fine  stock  of  jewelry  and 
bric-a-brac.  Tebbutt  &  Sons,  funeral  directors,  84  and  86  North  Pearl 
street.  J.  R.  Nangle,  93  Second  street  and  67  and  70  Quay  street, 
coal  and  wood  dealer.  For  fine  cigars  and  tobacco,  "  Payn's," 
corner  Maiden  lane  and  James  street.  Winchell  &  Davis,  504  and 
506  Broadway,  and  25  James  street,  wholesale  wine  and  liquor 
merchants.  Killip  &  Marks,  i  to  5  North  Pearl  street,  carry  a  full 
line  of  men's  furnishing  goods.  The  Cigar  Smoker's  Headquarters 
is  located  at  23  Steuben  street.  The  Thompson  Cottage,  61  Hamil 
ton  street,  Saratoga  Springs,  X.  Y.,  first-class  boarding,  Mrs.  Eva  T. 
Marshall,  proprietress.  St.  James  Cafe,  6  James  street.  Peter  A.  and 
Fred.  P.  Flliott,  proprietors.  W.  H.  Sample,  40  South  Pearl  street, 
carries  a  full  line  of  cutler}-.  Jas.  I).  Walsh,  plumbing  and  sanitary 
engineer.  40  Sheridan  avenue.  Frank  Smith,  druggist,  Clinton 
avenue  and  Lark  street.  William  K.  Drislane,  North  Pearl  street, 
carries  a  full  line  of  groceries.  White  &  Griffin,  tailors,  523  Broad- 
wav.  John  Doyle,  12  fames  street,  plumbing  and  draining. 
William  IHasie,  hot  and  cold  baths,  389  Broadway.  George  A. 
liailey,  112  State  street,  represents  the  Equitable  Life  Assurance 
Society,  of  New  York.  C.  (i.  Craft  &  Co.,  clothiers,  corner  Maiden 
lane  and  James  street.  Henry  Russell,  the  flour  merchant,  42  State 
street.  Walker  &  Gibson,  wholesale  druggists,  74  and  76  State 
street.  The  Ten  Fyck  is  a  first-class  hotel,  located  corner  Chapel 
and  State  streets.  The  Kenmore,  on  North  Pearl  street,  affords 
first-class  accommodations.  Stanwix  Hall,  corner  Broadway  and 
Maiden  lane,  does  a  large  business.  Iveeler's  Hotel,  corner  Broad- 
wav  and  Maiden  lane,  is  one  of  the  finest  hotels  in  the  State,  com- 


2^2          AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM      IILXRY     JOMXSOX. 

plete  in  every  ])articular.  Mr.  Douw  Fonda,  of  State  street,  carries 
a  full  line  of  drugs.  G.  \Y.  Luther  &  Sons,  anthracite  and 
bituminous  coal,  45  Columbia  street.  Chas.  G.  Stewart,  The 
Travelers'  Insurance  Company,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  Xo.  7  First 
street,  Troy,  X.  Y.  Garry  Benson's  Turkish  Baths  are  line,  located 
on  State  street.  J.  Cambridge.  M.  1).,  .102  Waverlv  place.  Xew 
York  city.  John  Xeil,  Fsq..  wine  and  billiard  parlors.  Sixth  avenue, 
Xew  York  city.  R.  II.  Lansing,  fashionable  hair  dresser  and 
instructor  in  military  tactics,  Williamstown.  Mass.  John  Harrigan's 
Sons,  undertakers,  Sheridan  avenue,  city.  !>.  Payn's  Sons,  tobac 
conists,  Broadway  and  Maiden  lane.  The  Albany  Business  Col 
lege  is  a  good  educational  institute.  Its  methods  of  education  is 
excellent  and  commendable.  It  is  a  treat  to  look  in  to  Annesley's 
Art  Store,  on  Xorth  Pearl  street.  His  accommodating  assistants 
are  most  courteous  gentlemen;  none  more  so  than  Messrs.  David 
Coleman  and  A.  J.  Bovlan.  The  beautiful  half-tone  illustrations 
which  graces  the  pages  of  this  little  volume  is  the  distinctive  work  of 
the  Albany  Fngraving  Company,  Maiden  lane.  We  acknowledge 
obligations  to  the  Sunday  Telegram,  for  the  use  of  the  half-tone 
portrait  of  Father  Walworth  and  honest  Captain  Robert  Davidson. 
Captain  Slattery's  Arcade  Hotel  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  city. 
P>.  \\  .  \\oosters  Sons'  furniture  is  commended  to  purchasers. 
Patrick  Maher's  popular  smoking  and  spellbinding  emporium 
attracts  general  attention.  Christopher  Ixeenholtz  is  a  most  accom 
plished  guide  and  lecturer  at  the  State  capilol.  lie  will  show  you 
and  explain  everything  appertaining  to  the  State'  capitol  without 
apparent  trouble.  "Jake"  Doyle  is  a  joker,  but  he  does  not  know 
it.  Gentlemanly  Sam  McAlindin  is  a  peach,  courteous  and  accom 
modating.  He  has  exclusive  charge  of  William  II.  Keeler's  wine 
room.  Charles  Parrott  is  his  first  lieutenant.  Miss  Catherine  Rilcv, 
principal  cashier  of  that  hostelry,  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  patrons 
of  the  restaurant.  Miss  F.  Coiighlin  looks  after  the  cash  in  the 
main  dining-room,  llappv  William  Stroby  is  ever  present,  and  has 
general  oversight.  Frank  Settle}'  has  charge  of  the  ladies  upstairs 
ordinary.  George  Taylor,  the  veteran,  is  the  general  superintendent 
at  night,  with  Fd.  Cooper  who  looks  alter  the  dining-room  at 
night  and  Miss  (.  Lyons  at  the  desk.  Mr.  keeler  is  tortunate  with 
the  continuous  service  of  his  first  hotel  clerk,  Mr.  Dexter  Brazil. 
There  is  no  more  competent  gentleman  for  that  position  than  he. 
Mr.  Chas.  Mann,  who  has  general  charge  in  Mr.  Keeler's  absence,  is 
a  thorough  hotel  man.  and  an  adept  in  hotel  and  business  tech 
nicalities.  Young  John  Keeler.  who  is  following  close  in  his  father's 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM    HENRY    JOHNSON.         273 

footsteps,  is  studying  the  hotel  business,  and  some  day  he  will  be  a 
full-fledged  hotel  keeper.  Bernard  Quinn,  the  "  Silver  King,"  of 
Maiden  lane,  is  a  study  and  knows  all  about  books  and  stationer}'. 
Knowledge  is  not  a  positive  element.  It  is  relative.  One  man 
knows  more  than  a  nation  of  men  about  things  that  he  does  know, 
and  they  do  not.  We'  know  that  Louis  Neubauer,  the  accom 
modating  night  keeper  at  Sheriff  Schifferdecker's  Maiden  Lane 
Hotel,  better  known  as  the  common  jail,  is  an  all  around  catch.  He 
tried  to  pull  us  in  once,  but  Jailer  Collopy  put  a  veto  on  the  trick. 
"  Crackers  and  Cheese,"  M.  W.  Rogers,  wants  to  have  the  exclusive 
agency  of  this  book,  but  we  say  "  nixey."  k>  Crackers  and  Cheese," 
will  go  down,  whilst  this  book  will  go  into  the  libraries  of  the 
people.  Richard  Early,  the  real  estate  projecter,  saved  our  life  once, 
and  we  tip  our  hat  to  him.  The  artist  in  soap,  in  the  Keeler  estab 
lishment,  is  Eugene  Skinner.  Freddie  Germain  and  Frank  Hamlin 
are  very  pleasant  attaches  of  this  popular  hostelry.  There  are  many 
kind  friends  that  we  would  delight  to  mention  in  these  notes,  but  we 
cannot  strike  them  all  with  a  glad  hand.  Still,  we  mention,  with 
pleasure,  the  successful  business  career  of  Charles  E.  Wolf,  the 
insurance  projector,  Judge  Severance  and  Sam  Goldring,  the  florist, 
who  are  high  and  dry  on  the  bridge  with  the  festive  Elks.  Air. 
Reefer,  on  Broadway,  is  making  a  success  of  the  stationery  business. 
We  are  greatly  indebted  to  the  Albany  press,  generally,  for  kind  and 
considerate  treatment  of  our  copy.  We  tip  our  hat  to  Messrs. 
Bishop,  Davis,  Bert  Denison  and  llutchins,  and  all  the  quill  drivers. 
Mr.  William  Jennings  Bryan,  whilst  here  the  other  night,  said  some 
good  tilings  about  Albany,  all  of  which  we  indorse.  Our  adopted 
city  is  all  right  and  up-to-date,  notwithstanding  the  census  takers  did 
not  fully  take  the  census  here.  Mr.  Bryan  spoke  in  general  of  our 
beautiful  hotels,  especially  the  Ten  Evck.  He  ought  to  have  seen 
our  Washington  Park,  visited  the  Pine  Hills,  promenaded  on  the 
Northern  Boulevard,  through  the  Rural  and  St.  Agnes'  cemeteries, 
looked  at  the  new  City  Hospital,  entered  and  viewed  the  architec 
tural  beaut}-  of  the  interior  of  the  Capitol,  witnesses  the  nightly  drills 
of  the  Tenth  Battalion,  seen  the  Burgesses  Corps  on  the  Fourth  of 
July  march  to  the  quick  music  of  Gartland's  Band,  in  company 
front,  on  State  street,  reaching  from  curb  to  curb.  Speaking  of  the 
Fourth  of  |ulv  recalls  to  our  mind  the  splendid  reception  and 
entertainment  we  received  on  that  day,  many  years  ago,  by  the  old 
and  honored  Jackson  Corps  at  their  armory;  and  Captain  Blasie 
being  in  command  we  were  royally  entertained.  \Ve  happened  to 
be  on  the  street,  having  been  drawn  there  by  the  splendid  music  of 

IS 


2/4          ArTOIJlOORAI'll  Y     OF     DR.     WILLIAM      IIKXRY     JOllX'SOX. 

the  band  and  perfect  marching  evolutions  of  the  corps,  when  John 
Herkimer  and  big-hearted  Charles  lilake  ])iit  heavy  hands  upon  and 
rushed  us  into  the  captain's  present,  where  we  were  forced  to  make 
our  second  Fourth  of  |ulv  address.  \\'e  are  told  that  there  are 
some  good  reliable  people  living  at  (  )yster  !>av.  \Ve  believe  that  to 
be  a  fact.  Governor  Roosevelt  and  his  family  residese  there.  Our  good 
friend  AI.  F.  Townsend,  Fsq.,  an  offspring  of  the  Townsend  family 
of  this  goodly  city,  resides  there,  but  spends  most  of  his  time  at  the 
State  capitol.  Augustus  (Jillum.  member-elect  of  'The  1  Lome 
Social  Club,"  resides  with  his  family  at  23  1-2  Livingston  avenue. 
James  H.  Coates,  photographer,  is  doing  business  at  Xo.  9  Xorth 
Pearl  street. 


To  RAISK  COTTON   IN  Ai;Rrr\. 

(jennanv  (/ets    Tuskcgcc   Students  lo   Introduce  the   Industry   in    Her 

Colony. 

Hooker  T.  Washington,  president  of  Tuskegee  Normal  and 
Industrial  Institute  for  Xegroes,  has  announced  that  officials  of  the 
( Jerman  government  had  closed  a  contract  with  his  school  to  fur 
nish  students  to  introduce  cotton  raising  among  the  natives  in  the 
German  colonv  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa. 

A  party  of  students,  equipped  with  cotton  ploughs,  gins,  wagons 
and  carpentn"  tools,  will  sail  from  Xew  York  for  the  new  fields 
Xovember  3.  I uoo.  The  part}'  will  be  under  the  leadership  of  |.  X. 
Calloway,  an  instructor  in  the  institute.  (  lermany  will  pay  all 
expenses  of  the  expedition  and  a  good  salarv  to  each  man. 

This  expedition  is  regarded  as  the  beginning  of  a  formidable  com 
petition  with  America  in  the  cotton  raising  industry.  (ierman 
agents  assert  that  sections  of  the  African  colony  can  produce  a 
quality  of  cotton  equal  to  that  raised  in  the  Southern  States  of 
America,  when  the  industry  is  understood  by  the  natives,  at  a  small 
expense. 

Civilizing  the  African  and  educating  him  is  all  right.  Professor 
\\  ashington  is  in  line  with  the  best  thinkers  and  practical  men  and 
friends  of  our  race. 

W.  H.   I. 


OK    DR.    WILLIAM    IIKXRY   jrmxsox.       275 

A  Message  to  Garcia,  being  a  Preachment  by  Elbert  Hubbard. — 
A  copy  of  Xo.  25  of  the  "  Four-Track  Series,"  containing-  "A 
Message  to  Garcia,"  will  be  sent  free,  post-paid,  to  any  address  in 
the  world,  on  receipt  of  a  postage  stamp  issued  by  any  country  on 
the  globe,  or  it  will  be  sent  in  packages  of  100  each,  on  receipt  of 
fifty  cents  for  each  100.  Address  George  H.  Daniels,  General 
Passenger  Agent,  Grand  Central  Station,  Xe\v  York. 

A  M  KSSAC.L  TO  GARCIA. 

In  all  this  Cuban  business  there  is  one  man  stands  out  on  the 
horizon  of  my  memory  like  Mars  at  perihelion.  When  war  broke 
out  between  Spain  and  the  Cnited  States,  it  was  very  necessary  to 
communicate  quickly  with  the  leader  of  the  insurgents.  Garcia  was 
somewhere  in  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  Cuba  —  no  one  knew 
where.  Xo  mail  nor  telegraph  message  could  reach  him.  The 
President  must  secure  his  co-operation,  and  quickly. 

What  to  do! 

Someone  said  to  the  President,  "There's  a  fellow  by  the  name 
of  Rowan  will  find  Garcia  for  you,  if  anybody  can." 

Rowan  was  sent  for  and  given  a  letter  to  be  delivered  to  Garcia. 
How  "the  fellow  by  the  name  of  Rowan  "  took  the  letter,  sealed  it 
up  in  an  oil-skin  pouch,  strapped  it  over  his  heart,  in  four  days 
lauded  by  night  off  the  coast  of  Cuba  from  an  open  boat,  dis 
appeared  into  the  jungle,  and  in  three  weeks  came  out  on  the  other 
side  of  the  island,  having  traversed  a  hostile  country  on  foot,  and 
delivered  his  letter  to  Garcia,  are  things  1  have  no  special  desire 
now  to  tell  in  detail. 

The  point  I  wish  to  make  is  this:  McKinley  gave  Rowan  a  letter 
to  be  delivered  to  Garcia;  Rowan  took  the  letter  and  did  not  ask, 
Where  is  he  at?"  Uy  the  Kternal !  there  is  a  man  whose  form 
should  be  cast  in  deathless  bronze  and  the  statue  placed  in  every 
college  of  the  land.  It  is  not  book-learning  young  men  need,  nor 
instruction  about  this  and  that,  but  a  stiffening  of  the  vertebrae 
\\hich  will  cause  them  to  be  loyal  to  a  trust,  to  act  promptly,  con 
centrate  their  energies:  do  the  thing-  "Carry  a  message  to 
( iarcia!  " 

( ieneral  Garcia  is  dead  now,  but  there  are  other  Garcias. 

Xo  man  who  has  endeavored  to  carrv  out  an  enterprise  where 
man\-  hands  were  needed,  but  has  been  well  nigh  appalled  at  times 
by  the  imbecility  of  the  average  man — the  inability  or  unwilling 
ness  to  concentrate  on  a  thing  and  do  it.  Slip-shod  assistance, 
foolish  inattention,  dowel  v  indifference,  and  half-hearted  work 


276          AL'TOlSJOGk.  VPHY     OF     l)k.     WILLIAM     HENRY 

seem  the  rule;  and  no  man  succeeds,  unless  by  hook  or  crook,  or 
threat,  he  forces  or  bribes  other  men  to  assist  him ;  or  mayhap,  God 
in  His  goodness  performs  a  miracle,  and  sends  him  an  Angel  of 
Light  for  an  assistant.  You,  reader,  put  this  matter  to  a  test: 
You  are  sitting  now  in  your  office  —  six  clerks  are  within  call. 
Summon  any  one  and  make  this  request:  "Please  look  in  the 
encyclopedia  and  make  a  brief  memorandum  for  me  concerning  the 
life  of  Correggio." 

Will  the  clerk  quietly  say,  "  Yes,  sir,"  and  go  do  the  task? 

On  your  life,  he  will  not.  He  will  look  at  you  out  of  a  fishy  eye 
and  ask  one  or  more  of  the  following  questions: 

Who  was  he? 

Which  encyclopedia? 

Where  is  the  encyclopedia? 

\Vas  I  hired  for  that? 

Don't  you  mean  Bismarck? 

What's  the  matter  with  Charlie  doing  it? 

Is  he  dead? 

Is  there  any  hurry? 

Shan't  I  bring  you  the  book  and  let  you  look  it  up  yourself? 

W7hat  do  you  want  to  know  for? 

And  I  will  lay  you  ten  to  one  that  after  you  have  answered  the 
questions,  and  explained  how  to  find  the  information,  and  why  you 
want  it,  the  clerk  will  go  off  and  get  one  of  the  other  clerks  to  help 
him  try  to  find  Garcia  —  and  then  come  back  and  tell  you  there  is 
no  such  man.  Of  course  I  may  lose  my  bet,  but  according  to  the 
Law  of  Average,  I  will  not. 

Now  if  you  are  wise  you  will  not  bother  to  explain  to  your 
"assistant"  that  Correggio  is  indexed  under  the  C's.  not  in  the  K's. 
but  you  will  smile  sweetly  and  say,  "  Never  mind,"  and  go  look  it 
up  yourself. 

And  this  incapacity  for  independent  action,  this  moral  stupidity, 
this  infirmity  of  the  will,  this  unwillingness  to  cheerfully  catch  hold 
and  lift,  are  the  things  that  put  pure  Socialism  so  far  into  the 
future.  If  men  will  not  act  for  themselves  what  will  they  do  when 
the  benefit  of  their  effort  is  for  all.  A  first  mate  with  knotted  club 
seems  necessary;  and  the  dread  of  getting  "the  bounce"  Saturday 
night  holds  many  a  worker  to  his  place. 

Advertise  for  a  stenographer,  and  nine  out  of  ten  who  apply, 
can  neither  spell  nor  punctuate  —  and  do  not  think  it  necessary  to. 

Can  such  a  one  write  a  letter  to  Garcia? 

"  You  see  that  bookkeeper,"  said  the  foreman  to  me  in  a  large 
factorv. 


THE  LAST  CORONER'S  Jl'RY  HELD  IN  SARATOGA  CO  I  NTY,  ATGl  ST  31,  1899. 


AITTOHIOC.R.  VI'Fiy     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY     JOITXSON.          28f 

"  ^i  es,  what  about  him?" 

"  Well,  he's  a  fine  accountant,  but  if  I'd  send  him  up  town  on  an 
errand,  he  might  accomplish  the  errand  all  right,  and  on  the  other 
hand,  might  stop  at  four  saloons  on  the  way,  and  when  he  got  to 
Main  street,  would  forget  what  he  had  been  sent  for." 

Can  such  a  man  be  entrusted  to  carry  a  message  to  Garcia? 

We  have  recently  been  hearing  much  maudlin  sympathy  expressed 
for  the  "  down-trodden  denizen  of  the  sweat  shop  "  and  the  "  home 
less  wanderer  searching  for  honest  employment,"  and  with  it  all 
often  go  many  hard  words  for  the  men  in  power. 

Nothing  is  said  about  the  employer  who  grows  old  before  his 
time  in  a  vain  attempt  to  get  frowsy  ne'er-do-wells  to  do  intelligent 
work;  and  his  long'  patient  striving  with  "help"  that  does  nothing 
but  loaf  when  his  back  is  turned,  in  every  store  and  factory  there 
is  a  constant  weeding-out  process  going  on.  The  employer  is  con 
stantly  sending  away  "help"  that  have  shown  their  incapacity  to 
further  the  interests  of  the  business,  and  others  are  being  taken  on. 
No  matter  how  good  times  are,  this  sorting  continues,  only  if  times 
are  hard  and  work  is  scarce,  the  sorting  is  done  finer  —  but  out 
and  forever  out,  the  incompetent  and  unworthy  go.  It  is  the  sur 
vival  of  the  fittest.  Self-interest  prompts  every  employer  to  keep 
the  best  —  those  who  can  carrv  a  message  to  Garcia. 

I  know  one  man  of  really  brilliant  parts  who  has  not  the  ability 
to  manage  a  business  of  his  own,  and  yet  who  is  absolutely  worth 
less  to  any  one  else,  because  he  carries  with  him  constantly  the 
insane  suspicion  that  his  employer  is  oppressing  or  intending  to 
oppress  him.  He  cannot  give  orders;  and  he  will  not  receive  them. 
Should  a  message  be  given  him  to  take  to  Garcia,  his  answer  would 
probably  be,  "  Take  it  yourself." 

To-night  this  man  walks  the  streets  looking  for  work,  the  wind 
whistling  through  his  threadbare  coat.  No  one  who  knows  him 
dare  employ  him,  for  he  is  a  regular  fire-brand  of  discontent.  He 
is  impervious  to  reason,  and  the  only  thing  that  can  impress  him  is 
the  toe  of  a  thick-soled  Xo.  9  boot. 

Of  course  I  know  that  one  so  morally  deformed  is  no  less  to  be 
pitied  than  a  physical  cripple;  but  in  our  pitying,  let  us  drop  a  tear, 
too,  for  the  men  who  are  striving  to  carry  on  a  great  enterprise, 
whose  working  hours  are  not  limited  by  the  whistle,  and  whose  hair 
is  fast  turning  white  through  the  struggle  to  hold  in  line  dowdy 
indifference,  slip-shod  imbecility,  and  the  heartless  ingratitude, 
which,  but  for  their  enterprise,  would  be  both  hungry  and  homeless. 

Have  I  put  the  matter  too  slronglv?     Possibly   I  luuvc;  but  when 


282          AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HEXKY     JOHNSON. 

all  the  world  has  gone  a-slumming  i  wish  to  speak  a  word  of 
sympathy  for  the  man  who  succeeds  —  the  man  who.  against  great 
odds,  has  directed  the  efforts  of  others,  and  having  succeeded,  finds 
there's  nothing  in  it:  nothing  but  bare  board  and  clothes. 

1  have  carried  a  dinner  pail  and  worked  for  day's  wages,  and  1 
have  also  been  an  employer  of  labor,  and  I  know  there  is  something 
to  be  said  on  both  sides.  There  is  no  excellence,  per  se,  in  poverty: 
rags  are  no  recommendation;  and  all  employers  are  not  rapacious 
and  high-handed,  any  more  than  all  poor  men  are  virtuous. 

My  heart  goes  out  to  the  man  who  does  his  work  when  the 
"  boss  "  is  away,  as  well  as  when  he  is  at  home.  And  the  man  who. 
when  given  a  letter  for  Garcia,  quietly  takes  the  missive,  without 
asking  any  idiotic  questions,  and  with  no  lurking  intention  of 
chucking  it  into  the  nearest  sewer,  or  of  doing  aught  else  but  deliver 
it.  never  gets  "  laid  off,"  nor  has  to  go  on  a  strike  for  higher  wages. 
Civilization  is  one  long  anxious  search  for  just  such  individuals. 
Anything  such  a  man  asks  shall  be  granted:  his  kind  is  so  rare  that 
no  employer  can  afford  to  let  him  go.  He  is  wanted  in  every  citv. 
town  and  village  —  in  every  office,  shop,  store  and  factory.  The 
world  cries  out  for  such;  he  is  needed,  and  needed  badly  —  the  man 
who  can  carrv  a  message  to  Garcia. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     IIEXRY     JOHXSOX.          283 


FINALE. 

Xo  more  pleasant  task  has  ever  fallen  to  the  lot  of- the  undersigned 
that  the  compilation  of  the  above  sketch  of  the  life  of  my  esteemed 
friend,  Dr.  Win.  H.  Johnson.  It  affords  me  particular  satisfaction 
to  here  give  the  full  measure  of  acknowledgment  which  I  know  is 
his  due,  both  from  an  admiration  and  knowledge  of  his  successful 
efforts  in  behalf  of  our  race,  along  every  line  of  which  lie  has 
given  his  best  thought  and  efforts  and  the  individual  benefit  which 
I  myself  have  received  bv  having  been  brought  in  close  touch  with 
him. 

Mere  is  a  sample  of  the  heroic  doses  he  sometimes  administers. 
which  ultimately  result  to  the  good  of  the  patient  who  shall  have 
the  courage  and  manhood  to  try  them  in  good  faith: 

Xot  so  manv  years  ago  two  young  men  stepped  into  his  place  of 
business,  as  was  their  custom,  and  were  met  with  the  terse  saluta 
tion  given  in  dead  earnest,  "  Well,  what  are  vou  two  loafing  around 
here  for?  "  After  they  had  caught  their  breath,  one  said,  "  I  expect 
to  go  to  work  shortly  "  "  I,"  said  the  other,  "  am  promised  a  place 
at  the  Kenmore  "  (the  then  leading  hotel  of  Albany).  "  Shame  on 
vou  both,  you  are  two  fools,"  came  the  blows,  straight  from  the 
.shoulder.  "  all  respectable  work  is  honorable,  it  is  true,  but  both  of 
you  are  capable  of  doing  better  work  for  yourselves  and  incidentally 
for  your  race.  Get  out  and  be  something.  Whv,  if  either  of  you 
were  competent.  1  could  put  you  in  a  place  worth  more  than  you 
ever  earned  in  your  life  and  that  too  within  a  stone's  throw  of  my 
slio]),  fur  the  man  1  refer  to  wants  a  good  bookkeeper.  If  the  brains 
and  ability  and  willingness  to  work  are  there,  the  color  of  his  skin 
won't  count.  Go  —  get  a  move  on  yourselves.  1  tell  you,  and  when 
you  have  something  to  sell  that  somebody  wants,  bring  it  to 
market."  Both  young  men  were  considerable  wrought  up  by  his 
language  and  left  the  place  with  hurt  and  angry  feelings.  They 
swallowed  the  drastic  dose,  however,  and  walking  home  together 
agreed  to  be  something  out  of  the  rut  into  which  most  of  our  young 
people  seem  to  have  fallen.  One  of  the  young  men.  now  connected 
with  one  of  the  largest  music  establishments  in  the  city,  promptly 
put  himself  to  and  thoroughly  learned  the  tailor's  trade  laying  a 
foundation  for  a  knowledge  of  business  methods  which  largely  con 
tributed  to  placing  him  where  he  is  now.  The  other,  several  months 


284          AUTOJUOGRAPTTY     OF     DR.     WILLIAM     HENRY    JOHNSON. 

after  the  conversation  took  place,  walked  into  Mr.  Johnson's  shop, 
and  said,  "  I  am  ready  for  that  job  of  bookkeeping,  now,  where  is 
it?"  Again,  like  a  pistol  report,  came  the  answer  quick  and  clear, 
"  I  )o  YOU  suppose  that  man  is  waiting  yet  for  you?  If  so,  then  you 
know  less  than  I  gave  you  credit  for,  and  are  hardly  less  foolish  than 
when  you  were  .loafing  around  here  last  fall.  He  could  have  had 
fifty  men  while  you  were  were  getting  ready,  but  never  mind,"  he 
added,  "  the  man  and  the  opportunity  usually  find  each  other  so  do 
not  let  the  fact  of  his  not  wanting  your  valuable  services  just  now 
discourage  von."  Sure  enough,  within  two  weeks,  an  opening  did 
come  and  was  immediately  taken  advantage  of.  This  occurred 
nearly  twenty  years  ago.  Both  the  young1  men  are  well  situated 
to-day  and  agree  they  began  their  life  work  at  the  time  Mr.  Johnson 
prodded  them  up  to  be  something.  For  whatever  measure  of 
success  which  may  have  come  to  me  (as  one  of  the  young  men 
referred  toX  T  certainly  date  its  inception  from  that  strong  talk,  to 
put  it  mildly,  which  Mr.  Johnson,  in  his  constant  thought  of  race 
progress  and  elevation,  gave  us  at  that  time. 

Others,  too,  stand  ready  to  do  justice  to  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
and  one  of  the  fairest  articles,  by  a  well-known  and  highly  esteemed 
newspaper  man,  Julian  Ralph,  which  precedes  this,  speaks  for  itself. 

A  few  more  "  Johnsons/'  and  our  young  men  and  women  would 
be  made  to  feel  that  life  was  given  them  for  a  purpose  higher  than 
the  level  which  a  great  many  are  content  with:  and  the  world 
personified  in  the  race  with  which  they  are  identified,  and,  as  in  the 
case  of  Mr.  Johnson,  would  be  the  better  for  their  having  lived  in  it. 
Respectfully, 

JOHN  T.  CHAPMAN, 
Manager  of  Leonard  Publishing  Company's  Publications. 

Albany,  X.  Y.,  August  i,  1900. 


A  LAST  WORD. 

Expressive  of  our  prayerful  and  grateful  thanks  given  to 
Almighty  ( iod  tor  his  unceasing  and  unerring"  providence,  which 
lias  protected,  directed  and  maintained  us  through  the  sixty-eight 
years  of  our  existence,  which  has  been  in  the  main  devoted  to 
dutiful  efforts  looking  to  the  maintenance  of  the  honor  of  our 
country's  escutcheon,  together  with  the  betterment  of  the  Chris 
tian,  moral,  intellectual  and  political  conditions  of  our  race  in  these 
Tnited  States  and  their  dependencies,  to-day  we  feel  a  conscious 
ness  of  being  happily  at  peace  with  all  mankind,  and  while  we 
will  still  strive  along  usual  lines  to  make  the  world  a  little  bit  better 
for  our  being  in  it,  we  will  wait  contentedly  for  the  coming  of  the 
hour  when  it  mav  please  God  to  remove  us  from  earth  to  the 
heaven  promised  the  faithful  believers  in  our  blessed  Saviour,  to 
abide  with  the  Father  in  the  kingdom  of  everlasting  rest. 

WM.  IT.  T- 


MUNICIPAL  TELEGRAPH  ™*  STOCK  CO. 

JOHN     MACK.    President 

STEUBEN   AND  JAMES  STS.,  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

ALAN  P.  HILL    ^    ^    <* 

Job  Printing  of  all  descriptions.       First-class  artistic  work. 

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44  NORTH    PEARL   STREET,  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 


==JOHN    H.  FLYNN^ 
HOTEL   GARDEN    CAFE 

269  CLINTON   AVE..  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

EUROPEAN    PLAN  VANAI.STYXE  &  Dl'GAN.  PROPS 

THE   PEOPLE'S  HOTEL 

Telephone  247  chapei          Broadway  and  Maiden  Lane,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

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I MPORTING  TAILORS 

Stanwix  Hall  48J  Broadway,  Albany,  N,  Y. 


Fine 
Cutlery 


Razors  from  25c.  to  $2.00  each. 
Shears  and  Scissors  from  I9c,  up. 
Pocket  Knives  from  lOc.  to  $10.00  each. 
Carving  Sets  from  50c.  up. 


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ALBANY,   N.   Y. 


JOHN   R.  IRVING      »      THIRST  FI^OOR    completed   with   Pri- 
4         1     vate  Dining  Rooms.    Special  atten 
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582  AND  584  BROADWAY    OPPOSITE  NEW  DEPOT',  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

DIGGS  &  IRVIXG,  Proprietors, 


PORTRAITS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

Dr.   William   H.  Johnson 3 

Mother  of  William   H.  Johnson 5 

Mrs.  William  H.  Johnson 5 

.\I  iss    Mamie   Board1}- 5 

Mrs.    Margarette    Harrison 5 

Or.  Johnson's  residence / 

A   Boquet 9 

Dr.  Johnson's  Daughters  and  Grandchildren;  His  Honor  the 
Mayor.  J.  II.  Blessing;  Judge  George  Addington.  President  Uncon 
ditional  Club;  Views  from  the  Capitol  and  Washington  Park;  the 
Cruiser  Brooklyn:  the  Steamers  Shinnecock  and  Dean  Richmond; 
Keeier's  and  the  Directory  Hotels;  John  G.  Myers'  North  Pearl 
Street  Store:  the  old  X.  V.  C.  &  H.  R.  R.  R.  Depot:  the  White 
Elephant. 

St.    Peter's    Church 23 

Hon.   Charles  Sumner 24 

Hon.    Frederick    Douglass .  24 

Madonna 25 

Hon.    Daniel   .Murray 26 

A  Gem 39 

Douglass  Monument.  Rochester;  Roscoe  Conkling;  Grant  Club; 
H.  S.  C.  Badges:  A.  F.  Stevens,  Philadelphia.  Pa.:  Key  to  the 
White  House  on  the  4th  of  March.  1901.  etc. 

Lotus    Menand    40 

Prof.   Jacob   C.    White 41 

Dr.    X.    V.    Mossell 41 

The   Frederick   Douglass    Hospital 42 

Miss    Fdmonia    Lewis 55 

John    Brown 55 

O.    V.    Catto 55 

President  McKinley  and  Staff 56 

City  Flail 57 

Prof.    Booker  T.   Washington 58 

Rev.   A.  T.  Johnson 71 

The  Colored  Men's  Xew  York  State  Convention,  1866 71 

Captain   Fdgar  V.   Denison 72 

George  Robe 73 

Mrs.  J.  St.  C.   P.   Ruffin 73 

Rev.  Jas.  M.  Boddy,  A.  M 73 

Hon.   Benjamin  B.  Odell.  Jr 74 

Representative   Newspaper   Men .  . .  .  87 

19 


290  PORTRAITS  AND    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

Hon.  William  H.  Keeler 88 

Richard  Kelley 89 

A   Penny  Short 89 

Hon.   Lyman  H.   Bevans 90 

The  Last  Moments  of  John  Brown 103 

The   White    Slave 104 

Statesmen 105 

Governor  Roosevelt 106 

The  State  Capitol 119 

Lieutenant-Governor  Timothy  L.   Woodruff 120 

Admiral  Dewey   121 

Hon.  J.  A.   Ross 122 

General  Daniel  E.  Sickels 122 

Dr.   Thomas   Elkins 122 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cisco 122 

Flon.  John  Boyd  Thacher 135 

John   Graham 1 36 

Father    Wahvorth 151 

John    H.    O'Brien 1 52 

Charles   H.   Lansing,  Jr 167 

Thomas   H.    Diggs 167 

The  New  York  State  Cleveland  League 167 

Albany   County  Building 168 

Hon.  John  A.  Howe,  Jr. 183 

James    Clark 184 

Leo   H.    Graham 184 

L.  Gensler 184 

Peter    A.    Elliott 184 

The  New  New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  Railroad  Depot 199 

The   Rev.   Samuel   Harrison 200 

Hon.  J.  W.  Thompson 200 

Tomb  of  the  Late  President  Arthur 201 

J.   A.   Cromwell 202 

Hon.  J.  C.  Matthews 202 

Stephen   Meyers 202 

The  Sixth  U.  S.  Colored  Troops 202 

C.  H.  Rushmore 215 

William    B.    Mix 215 

Unconditional  Republican  Club  House 216 

Parlor,  Billiard  Room,  Unconditional  Club 217 

Assembly  Room.  Reading  Room,  Unconditional  Club 218 

Hon.   E.   E.   Cooper 231 

Steamboat  Adirondack    232 

Captain   Robert  Davidson 233 

Streets  of  Mexico,  Pan-American  Exposition 234 

Representatives' of  the  Home  Social  Club 247 

The  New  York  State  Building,  Buffalo  Exposition 248 

Representatives  of  the  Home  Social  Club 249 

Agricultural  Building,   Buffalo  Exposition 250 

E.   B.   Irving 263 


PORTRAITS  AXD   ILLUSTRATIONS.  2QI 

Page. 

Sir  Joseph  E.  S.  Williams 264 

Ethelbert     Evans 265 

H.   A.   Spencer 265 

Master  Mason's  Degree 265 

Hon.  John  J.  Smith 266 

Sir  John  E.  Berry 266 

1 11  effabl e 266 

Representatives  of  the  Home  Social  Club 277 

Last  Coroner's  Jury  held  in  Saratoga 278 

I*.  S.  Government  Building,  Buffalo  Exposition 279 

Albright  Gallery  of  Art.  Buffalo  Exposition 280 


INDEX  BY  CHAPTERS. 


Page. 

Introduction   H 

By  \Y.  H.  J.,  E.  E.  Cooper,  Daniel  Murray,  Rev.  James  M. 
Boddy.  A.  M.,  and  Hon.  John  J.  Smith. 

Chapter    1 17 

Brief  Sketch   of  the  Author's   Life. 

Chapter   II 21 

Literary  Work ;  The  World's  Industrial  and  Cotton  Centennial; 
Frederick  Douglass'  Thanks;  Knights  of  Labor;  Public  Printer 
Benedict;  Miss  Lottie  Tompkins;  Albany  Raises  One  Hundred 
Dollar^  for  John  Brown's  Daughter;  Joseph  A.  Smith;  E.  B. 
Wright:  Army  Matters:  General  J.  J.  Hefferman;  Professor  W.  S. 
Scarborough;  Hon.  Frederick  Douglass  and  Hon.  J.  S.  Clarkson; 
Unconditional  Republican  Club;  Female  Lundy  Society;  Female 
Lovejoy  Society;  The  Banneker  Institute:  Letters  from  Aleck 
Powell.  T.  McCain  Stewart.  Alfred  Thomas;  Thanks,  from  Booker 
T.  Washington.  C.  T.  Shepherd.  Thomas  Elkins,  and  the  Citizens' 
Testimonial;  Xew  York  Press  Comments  on  the  Author;  Philadel 
phia  Press  Comments  on  the  Author;  Charles  Simmer's  Bust  and 
the  Douglass  Hospital;  the  Author's  Mother;  Henry  M.  Wilson, 
and  the  African  Civilization  Society;  Letters  from  D.  B.  Bowser. 
Calvin  Fairbank,  James  Redpath ;  "The  New  York  Age:"  George 
W.  Lattimore;  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Prime,  Charles  L.  Reason,  S.  W. 
Clay.  Robert  P.  Porter:  Military  Affairs;  Colored  Military 
Company. 

Chapter    III 60 

Colored   Population  of  Albany  County;   Letter  from  the  Author's 

Sister. 

Chapter    IV 70 

Fruits  of  the  Author's  Legislation:  Lecture  on  Lincoln;  John 
Brown's  Birthday;  Letters  from  John  G.  Myers.  Esq..  Col.  Frank 
Chamberlain.  Howard  Graham,  and  John  E.  Bruce. 

Chapter    V 97 

The  Xegro  Citizen's  Constitutional  Rights  and  Obligations 
Discussed. 

Chapter    VI ir.} 

The  Unconditional  Republican  Club's  Trip  to  Philadelphia;  the 
Author's  Letter  Descriptive  of  the  Same. 


294  INDEX. 

Pago. 

Chapter   VII 130 

"  The  Philadelphia  Sentinel,"  a  Nearer  View — Some  Points  About 
People  and  Things,  by  William  Carl  Bolivar:  Dinner  and  Presenta 
tion  by  the  Home  Social  Club;  Letter  from  George  \Y.  Bordly; 
The  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Moses. 

Chapter    VI II 1 3g 

Letters  on  the  Subject  of  the  Celebration  of  John  Brown's  Birth 
day,  and  the  Passage  of  the  Elsberg  Anti-Discriminating  School 
Bill. 

Chapter   IX 145 

Looking  at  the  Author's  Pocket  Album;  A  Good  Joke;  How  the 
Author  Got  a  New  Year's  Dinner. 

Chapter  X 148 

"  Be  You  a  Nigger?"  The  Ejection  of  the  Author  from  the  Trimble 
Opera  House  in  1870:  Woman,  Eulogized  by  the  Author;  What  the 
Leaders  Say. 

Chapter   XI \5<) 

Circulating  Library;  Albany  Literary  Association;  The  Negro 
Soldier;  Organization  of  the  Senate;  Reminiscences  of  the  Late 
War;  Letter  from  Edmonia  Lewis,  the  Sculptress;  the  Sumner  Bust 
Testimonial  to  the  Author;  Dr.  Brundage  and  Colored  Residents; 
Home  versus  Foreign  Missions;  Club  Women  at  the  Capitol;  State 
Federation  of  Women  Elect  Officers;  Hampton  Normal  and  Agri 
cultural  Institute;  a  Letter  from  Hon.  Charles  W.  Anderson. 

Chapter  XII 178 

The  Free  Academy,  and  the  Abolition  of  the  Wilberforce  School, 
by  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction,  in  1871.  '72  and  '73. 

Chapter   XIII ,  ..  .    18) 

The  Recommendation  and  Endorsement  of  the  Author  as  a  Cam 
paign  Speaker;  Douglass  Memorial  Exercises.  March  5,  1895,  in  the 
City  Hall,  and  the  Eulogy  by  the  Author;  First  Anti-Slavery  Move 
ment;  Mayor  Thacher's  Action  in  the  Matter  of  the  Admission  of 
Colored  Patients  to  the  Homeopathic  Hospital;  An  Order  Revoked; 
Letters  from  Charles  H.  Butler,  Hon.  Charles  J.  Folger  and  Hon. 
Lyman  Tremain ;  Colored  Republican  Committee,  April  13,  1872. 

Chapter    XIV 204 

Celebrating  the  Emancipation  at  Watkyns,  N.  Y.,  August  4,  1885, 
and  Dr.  Johnson's  Eulogy  on  General  Grant;  The  Heroes  of  the 
John  Brown  Fight  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va. ;  The  Philadelphia  Sat 
urday  Evening  Post  on  the  Vice-Presidency  of  Abraham  Lincoln; 
Letters  from  John  L.  Boseman,  Troy,  and  John  Mitchell,  Jr..  and 
William  E.  Gross;  President  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation. 
January  i.  1863;  The  Alleged  Fugitive  Slaves:  Jerry,  at  Syracuse; 
Nallie,  at  Troy;  Dangerfield  and  Webster,  at  Philadelphia;  A  Col 
ored  Men's  State  Convention,  in  1866,  and  Miss  Susan  B.  Anthony; 
Letters  from  John  E.  Bruce  and  Annie  Brown  Adams;  Frederick 
Rauscher  and  Dr.  Johnson's  Leather  Gun. 


INDEX.  295 

Page. 
Chapter    XV 219 

The  Celebration  of  the  Eighty-third  Anniversary  of  the  Declaration 
of  American  Independence,  by  the  Banneker  Institute,  Philadelphia. 
July  4.  1859;  Oration  Delivered  by  Mr.  William  H.  Johnson. 

Chapter    XYI 235 

Dr.  Johnson's  Lecture,  in  Albany,  X.  Y. :  Subject,  "Slavery, 
Rebellion  and  Freedom ;  or.  In  Slavery  Days." 

Chapter    X VII 252 

Dr.  Johnson's  Masonic  Record  Itemized:  His  Letter  to  Grand 
Master  Flagler:  Letter  from  Julian  Ralph  to  the  Providence  Journal ; 
Masonic  Communication  to  The  Echo;  Grand  Lodge  Communica 
tion;  Letters  from  Charles  E.  Lewis,  Albany.  X.  Y..  and  Lewis 
Ilayden.  Boston.  Mass.:  P.  G.  M.  Johnson's  Discussion  of  the 
Words.  "  Free  Born;"  Grand  Masonic  Gathering  in  Mt.  Moriah 
Lodge.  Troy.  X.  Y. 

Chapter    XYII1 271 

Business  Xotes:  Booker  T.  Washington  to  Raise  Cotton  in 
Africa;  A  Message  to  Garcia,  by  Elbert  Hubbard. 

Finale 283 

Final   Remarks,   by  the   Compiler.    Mr.   John  T.    Chapman. 

A    Last    \Vord   .    28^ 


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